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DICTIONARY'
SUPERSTITIONS
AND MYTHOLOGY
BIREN BONNERJEA, D.Litt. (Paris)
AUTHOR OF “ ETHNOLOGIE DU BENGALE.” ETC.
FOLK PRESS LIMITED
RANELAGH ROAD, LONDON, S.W.i
*019
CENTRAL ARCH ^GLOGlGAfc
LIBRARY, Nt W
'■ce. No. ...
£¥l/£h - —
Printed in Great Britain
by -Burleigh Ltd., at The Burleigh Press, Bristol
. ... \r J '
NEPOTIS
IN
JIT ROY
AMANTISSIMI MEI
MEMORIAM
D.D.
“ r vu>Ol creavrov.”
" Know thyself.”
— Oracle.
PREFACE
Owing to the great volume of existing literature on the
subject, it may seem an unnecessary waste of time and energy
to offer the following work to the public ; a few words of
explanation, therefore, may not be out of place here.
A number of years ago, when I was making a comparative
study of mythology and folklore I began to collect notes,
which gradually grew to such an extent that I felt myself
justified in curtailing the mass of material and rearranging
the whole in the form of a short dictionary. It would have
been an easy task to enlarge this book to at least four times
its present size, but I purposely restricted myself to what, in
my opinion, was absolutely essential and at the same time
most trustworthy.
As the book is primarily intended as a reliable guide
for serious students of mythology and folklore, I have
given under every heading the country or countries where
the superstition is prevalent and the authorities with the
pages of the works where it is to be found ; wherever no
localities are given, it is to be understood as pertaining to
Great Britain, unless the book referred to deals with one
particular country or province. I have deviated from the
course mentioned above when either the subject is too well
known, or when the superstitions were collected by myself
and no printed work on the subject was available. To further
facilitate references, I have given at the end of the lexico-
graphical part, a complete bibliography of the works chiefly
made use of in the compilation of this book. I have
included only those British, French, German, Bohemian and
Indian superstitions which I could actually verify on the
spot ; owing however to my ignorance of the Czech language,
I was forced to avail myself of the kind services of a friend
who helped me in my task.
A complete understanding of the gradual development of
the human mind can be arrived at only by means of a study
of the superstitions of the various nations. It is a well-known
fact, that the more advanced a nation is, the less superstitious
are the people. The moment anything can be logically answered,
superstition comes to an end ; but as long as we cannot under-
stand the causes and effects, we are groping in the dark, and
6
PREFACE
our imagination is given full play. It is also a well-known fact
that advancement influences our imagination to a very great
extent. There are several very important factors in the making
of superstitions, the foremost of which is our environment.
We can dream our day-dreams amidst green fields with the
birds singing above us, or beside the rippling stream under
the clear moonlit sky, but it would be difficult, if not impossible,
to indulge ourselves in those same dreams amidst the noise
and bustle of a busy city life, or while rushing through the
Continent of Europe in the wagon-lit of the Xord Express.
Every man is born primitive, but the conditions of his living
tend to form his ideas. A villager living his primitive semi-
savage life is naturally more prone to be imaginative than his
town-bred cousin ; hence imagination is to be found more
in villages than in towns, more amongst savages than among
civilized races — and in Imagination is the seed of Super-
stition. Imagination combined with Ignorance is Super-
stition full-born.
Superstition may be defined subjectively as the disposition
or tendency to ascribe phenomena which admit of natural
explanation to occult or supernatural causes ; or objectively,
it is any system of religious belief or practice which manifests
such a tendency. Superstition is excessive belief or credulity ;
it arises from the encroachment of faith on the rights of
reason and knowledge, and is applied in popular usage to various
forms of polytheism. It is an unreasonable belief in things or
phenomena which, although owing their origin to perfectly
natural and logical causes, are attributed to some supernatural
force or power, or again, the natural results of these are dis-
torted by popular imagination into something fantastic. Thus
for example, in the Middle Ages, when science was in its infancy,
the violent wind was supposed to have been caused by Wodan
and his spectral followers, riders and hounds in full chase,
rushing through the woods, or athwart the sky, in quest of
some poor human soul ; the French have their prototype
' in the Grand Veneur riding in the forests of Fontainebleau,
and we in our legend of Herne the Hunter haunting the ancient
oak tree in Windsor Forest. “ Superstition would seem to be
simply cowardice in regard to the supernatural. The super-
stitious man is one who will wash his hands at a fountain,
sprinkle himself at a temple font, put a bit of laurel-leaf into
his mouth, and so go about for the day. If a weasel run across
his path, he will not pursue his walk until someone else has
traversed the road, or until he has thrown three stones across it.
When he sees a serpent in his house, if it be the red snake, he
will invoke Sabazius ; if the sacred snake, he will straightaway
PREFACE
7
place a shrine on the spot. He will pour oil from his flask
on the smooth stones at the cross-roads as he goes by, and
will fall on his knees and worship them, before he departs.
If a mouse gnaws through a meal-bag, he will go to the ex-
pounder of the sacred law and ask what is to be done. . , .
He will not tread upon a tombstone, or come near a dead
body or a woman defiled by childbirth, saying that it is
expedient for him not to be polluted. Also on the fourth and
seventh days of each month he will order his servants to
mull wine, and will go out and buy myrtle wreaths, frankin-
cense, convolvuluses/'*
Every natural thing our forefathers could not understand
was attributed, as it is attributed to-day by the savage races,
to some good or evil spirits ; diseases were caused by malicious
demons, ill-disposed fairies or malignant witches ; ship-
wrecks were the direct acts of Nixes or Water-demons;
ansemia was caused by those horrible monsters, vampires,
sucking the patient's blood ; the eclipse of the sun and the
moon was the result of their being devoured by some blood-
thirsty and revengeful demons, such as Rahu or Ketu ;
W erewolves, or men who by means of black arts transformed
themselves into beasts of prey, devastated the land. An
eminent author relates how, during an eclipse, he heard a
French peasant exclaim with deep anguish: “Mon Dieu!
Qu'ette est souffrante ! ” and as an explanation pointed to
the almost totally obscured moon. The Rev. Mr. S. Baring
Gould found it impossible to find anyone to guide him through
a certain wood in France, for fear of the “ Loup-garou.”
As an example of what superstitions lead to we need
only mention the awful days of the Hexenverfolgungen
and Hexenprozessen when hundreds, nay even thousands,
of innocent human beings were burnt at the stake on the
mere supposition of being witches : as witness whereof
the trial and condemnation of the famous Lancashire Witches.
With the advancement of culture and civilization, these
superstitions have happily vanished; but it would be safe
to assert that no matter how advanced the people are,
there is not one nation in the world which is entirely free
from superstitions of every kind. We, living in civilized
Europe, cannot understand the mentality of the Zulus
in employing “ witch-doctors ” to “ smell out ” culprits, or
of the Hindus in prostrating themselves before a hideous idol
and praying for riches or the recovery of stolen goods, yet very
few of us would willingly walk under a ladder, or make up a
party of thirteen at the dinner table. The origin of most of
* Theophrastus : The Characters , translated by R. C. Jebb (1870} xxvii.
BIREN BONNERJEA.
March.
PREFACE
our modem superstitions is lost in antiquity. Dr. Adolf Leh-
mann in his admirable book, Aberglauhc mid Zauhcrei has
discussed this question of the evolution of superstitions at
great length ; it is therefore, unnecessary for me to go into
the matter any further, or to give any explanation as to their
origin. I have contented myself with a simple list of these
superstitions with their different variations in different
countries as they exist at the present day.
With regard to Oriental words and names, I have not
restricted myself to any definite system of transcription, and
have been guided only by the pronunciation. The various
superstitions connected with folk-medicine have been sparingly
dealt with, as my own Ethnologie du Bengale, Black, Folk
Medicine and Hovorka and Kronfeld, Vergleichende Volks-
medizin give sufficient information.
It remains for me now to acknowledge my indebtedness
particularly to the following works, from which I have freely
borrowed : Sir James G. Frazer, The Golden Bough ; E. Tylor,
Primitive Culture ; Dr. Brewer, Reader’s Handbook ; J. Dow-
son, Hindu Classical Dictionary ; Dr. A. Wuttke, Der deutsche
Volksaberglaube der Gegenwart ; L. Strackerjan, Aberglauben
und Sagen aus dem Herzogtum Oldenburg ; Dr. A. Lehmann,
Aberglaube und Zauberei ; Fanny D. Bergen, Current Super-
stitions, Berenger-Feraud, Superstitions et survivances eiudiees
au point de vue de leur origine et de leur transformations ; and
Brand, Observations on the Popular Antiquities of Great Britain.
Since completing my MS. it has been my good fortune to come
across Lean’s Collectanea by Mr. V. S. Lean ; unfortunately,
therefore, I could not make as much use of this vast treasure-
house of research and information relating to folklore as
I would have liked. I must also not forget to tender my
thanks to the various friends at home and abroad who have
helped me with valuable contributions and advice.
Last, but not least, my best thanks are due to my wife
for her untiring help in the arduous task of collecting, selecting
and arranging the material.
Should this book be of some little service to serious students
whose criticism alone I value, I shall be amply rewarded for
the amount of time and labour I have spent thereon. It has
been a labour of love for me, and incomplete though it may
be, I send it forth to the world to earn as much appreciation
for itself as it is worth.
PRONUNCIATION
a in Indian words as a in “ fall.”
a in foreign words as a in " father.”
c in Slav words as ts.
c in Slav words as ch in “ church.”
ch in French words as sh.
ch in German words before e, i as sh ; before other vowels
or consonants as ch in Scotch : “ loch.”
ch in Greek words as k.
e in foreign words as e in “ met ” or a in “ mate.”
gh in Arabic words as the Modern Greek y or the North
German g.
g in German words as g in “ garden.”
h in Semitic words as a strongly aspirated h.
I in foreign words as ee in “ meet.”
3 in foreign words as j in “ judge.”
j in Teutonic words as y.
kh in Semitic words as ch in Scotch “ loch ”
1 in Slav words between two consonants is pronounced as U.
q in Semitic words as a guttural k.
r in foreign words is always distinctly pronounced.
r in Slav words between two consonants is pronounced as ri.
s in foreign words as ss in “ hiss.”
s in German words at the beginning of a syllable as z.
s in French words between two vowels as z.
s in Slav words as sh in “ shy.”
sch in Teutonic words as sh.
st in German words as sht.
t in foreign words has usually a soft sound as in French or
Italian.
u in foreign words as 00 in “ fool ” or u in “ full.”
v in Teutonic words as f.
w in Teutonic words as v.
z in Teutonic words as ts.
z in Slav words as the French j or as s in " pleasure.”
ai in Indian words as a-i.
au in Indian words as a-u.
au in German words as ou in “ house.”
au in German words as oy in “ boy.”
ei in German words as y in my."
9 B
: d, n, s, s. t, t, z, z
Latin equivalents.
A
Aalu : This was the name by which the Egyptian; Elysium
was designated.
Aasgaardsreia : “ Aasgard’s Chase ” ; a frequent appellation
of the Wild Hunt (q.v.) of Northern mythology.
Abaris : Gr. Myth. It was Abaris to whom Apollo (q.v.) gave
a golden arrow on which to ride through the air.
Abhac : It is the Irish cognate of an Afanc (q.v.).
Abhaswaras : Hindu Myth. A class of deities, sixty-four in
number, of whose nature little is known. (Dowson,
H.C.D.)
Abraxas : A stone with the word Abraxas engraved on it is
said to be a famous talisman. The word symbolizes the
365 intelligences between deity and man.
Acacia : Acacia-wood was held in ancient times to be the
“ Wood of Life.” According to Kercher, it was sacred
to the sun god of Egypt.
Academus : Gr. Myth. A hero of Attica. He told Castor and
Pollux where Theseus had hidden Helen.
He is sometimes identified with Cadmus (q.v.).
Acca Laruntia : According to a legend, she was the wife of
Faustulius. She saved Remus and Romulus exposed on
a hill and brought them up. These children afterwards
founded the city of Rome.
Accidental upsetting of a cup : In Japan if a cup of medicine
destined for a sick person be accidentally upset, it is a
sure sign of his speedy recovery. (Griffis, M.E., p. 467.)
Acco : Gr. Myth. A class of beings belonging to the same
species as Lamia (q.v.).
Acephali : A fabulous race of people, reported by ancient
writers to have had no heads, cf. Blemmyce, A-Siras.
Achseus : Gr. Myth. Brother of Ion, nephew of Helen,
ancestor of the Achaeans.
Achelous : Gr. Myth. God of the river bearing this name,
and father of the Sirens (q.v.).
Acheri : Indian Folklore. They are the ghosts of little girls,
who live on the tops of mountains, but descend at night
to hold their revels in more convenient places (Crooke,
P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 263 ; Traill, Asiatic Researches, XVI,
pp. 137 seq. ; N.I.N.Q., Vol. II, p. 27; Ethnologie du
Bengale, p. 99). .
A DICTIONARY of
iron : The “River of
«« h —
" 1 .?S fwfldrfcon ne lache point sa P™.-"^
met, Gr. Myth. ^»<"SSrS
Grecian hero of the Iliad. wounded by a poisoned
to to KTie wi dipped in
arrow shot by rans. became mvulner-
the river Styx by hl* was bis heel. He was brought
able ; his only vulnera P ^ disguised as a woman
„p hy the cen f ££fmede Lt was discovered
The lance of Achilles cured all wounds that
The two horses belonging to Achilles
— - of human speech, cf. Anon, Al-
rBomk, Bahamas ^ h herdiovedby, he Galatea
The monster ^
which bears the same name and
lived with the
by Ulysses. Z
■were caused by it
Achilles’ Horses
possessed the power
A, t T V A oe
Acis : Sicilian Myth.
(q.v.). -T- , -
and crushed him with
was changed into a river ■rpttwfr KM p. s. )
flows at the foot of Mt. Etna (Da. Brewer, KM»V • 5 j
S™eet-fl“Z, k. o{ Arg0S; father of Danaiis. He
ACn was "accidentally killed by a disc thrown by Perseus his
Actem^Gn Myth. A hunter who surprised Diana in her
bath, the goddess was enraged and changed him mto
i V. _ * _ n,:~ Pew wqq Hwmired bv his own hounds*
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
13
Aderyn y Corph : In Welsh folk-lore it is a kind of super-
natural bird which appears as a foreteller of death. Vide
Death Warnings, etc.
Adhyatman : Hind. Myth. The supreme spirit ; the soul of
the universe (Dow SON, H.C.D., p. 2).
Admete : Gr. Myth. Founder and king of Pheres in Thessaly,
and one of the Argonauts. He was husband of Alceste
(q.v.) whom he offered as a sacrifice in order to prolong
his own life. Apollo guarded his troops.
Adolf : He was bishop of Cologne ; he is popularly believed
to have been devoured^ either by mice or by rats in
a.d. 1112. cf. Hatto, Freiherr von Guttingen, Widerolf,
Graaf.
Adona : A seraph who was the first of the twelve martyrs.
Adona was the tutelar spirit of James.
Adon-Ai : He was the spirit of love and beauty.
Adonis : Class. Myth. A beautiful youth beloved by Aphrodite.
He was bom of a myrrh tree. In the flush of his youth,
he was slain by a wild boar. After his death, he was
changed into an anemone by Venus.
Adultery : Many of the indigenous tribes of Sarawak are
firmly persuaded that were their wives to commit adultery
while their husbands are searching for camphor in the
jungle, the camphor obtained by the men would evaporate
(Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 29).
Among the inhabitants of the hills near Rajmahal,
Bengal, it is believed that adultery undetected and un-
expiated will cause epidemics in the villages. (Frazer,
. Psyche’s Task, 2nd Ed., p. 45).
Aedon : Gr. Myth. A queen of Thebes who killed her own
son by mistake. Zeus relieved her grief by turning her
into a nightingale.
Asgeon : Gr. Myth. A huge monster with one hundred arms
and fifty heads who, with his brothers Cothus and Gyges,
conquered the Titans by hurling at them three hundred
rocks at once.
ABgeus : Gr. Myth. The father of Theseus, who, in grief at
the supposed loss of his son, threw himself into the sea,
which was named Algean Sea after him.
AEgina : Gr. Myth. A daughter of the river-god Asopus.
Zeus in the form of an eagle carried her off to an island
which bears her name.
AEgir : In old Norse mythology this was the name of a water-
demon. Vide Ran. ■ ^ v U
A DICTIONARY OF
14
AEgisthus : Gr. Myth. Son of Thyestus and Palopea. He
killed Agamemnon, after having seduced his wife
Clytemnestra.
JE gle : Gr. Myth. One of the Hesperides.
Aigyptus : Gr. Myth. A son of Balus, twin brother of Danaiis
and king of Libya, who conquered and gave his name to
Egypt.
Aello : Gr. Myth. One of the Harpies (q.v.).
AEolus : Class. Myth. The happy ruler of the iEolian Isles,
who had dominion over the winds.
Aesculapius : Rom. Myth. The god of medicine.
AEsir : Teut. Myth. The chief gods of the Teutonic pantheon.
With the AEsir were associated the Asynjur or goddesses,
of whom there were eighteen.
Aesma: In Persian mythology this is a dearly defined,
outrageous and assaulting demon, whose name has been
thought to be reflected as Asmodaeus in the Book of
Tobit. (D.R.E., Vol. IV, p. 620.)
AEthra : Gr. Myth. Mother of Theseus.
Afanc : In Wales an Afanc is regarded as a kind ofl crocodile,
but it was originally, in the opinion of Sir John Rh£s,
a kind of monster in human form, as is suggested by the
Irish cognate Abhac. ( D.R.E. , Vol. IV, p. 576.)
Afrit : In Arabic demonology Afrit is the chief of the demons.
The word in Arabic simply means a “ demon.”
Afterbirth : If dogs eat of the afterbirth of mares, they will
go mad. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49 ; see Pioss, Das
Weib, Vol. II. p. 221 et seq.).
Agamemnon : Son of Atreus, brother of Menelaus, husband of
Clytemnestra by whom he was slain with the help of
iEgisthus.
Agate : Agate quenches thirst, if kept in the mouth ; it also
has the power of allaying fever. It is supposed to render
the wearer invisible ; it turns the swords of foes against
themselves.
The agate is the emblem of health and long life and is
dedicated to June.
In the Zodiac it stands for Scorpio, cf. Alectoria.
Agatha, St. : She protects from fire (q.v.).
Agdistis : Gr. Myth. The Great Mother was so called at her
reputedly original shrine at Pessinus from the rock Agdus
on Mt. Dindimus.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Age : One should never tell his age to others, lest he die.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49.)
To ascertain a girl’s age, pull a hair from her head, tie
a ring to it and hang this inside a tumbler or a goblet in
such a manner that it does not touch the sides of the
glass ; the ring will begin to oscillate and will strike the
sides as many times as the number of years the girl’s
exact age is. (Parts of Gt. Britain).
Aghasura : Hind. Myth. An Asura (q.v.) who was Kansa’s
general. He assumed the form of a vast serpent, and
Krishna's companions, the cowherds, entered its mouth,
mistaking it for a mountain cavern ; Krishna rescued
them. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 6).
Aglaia : Class. Myth. One of the three Graces (q.v.)
Agni : “ Fire.” One of the most ancient and sacred objects
of Hindu worship. It appears in three phases — in heaven
as the sun, in mid-air as lightning and on earth as ordinary
fire. (Dowson, H.C.D , p. 6.)
(ii) The most important of the Vedic gods ; originally
the god of the altar fire, he yet represents a trinity in
which to earthly fire are joined the lightning and the sun.
He is the mediator between gods and men. He is repre-
sented as red and with two faces.
Ague : The two patron saints for this disease are : St. Pemel
and St. Petronella. Vide Iliad, Spider. (Various remedies
are given in Lean’s Collectanea, Vol. II, pt. ii, pp. 483
et seq.) •
Ahasverus : A legendary personage better known by the
name of the Wandering Jew (q.v.).
Ahi : Hindu Myth. A serpent. A name of Vritra, the Vedic
demon of drought (Dowson, H.C.D. , p. 9).
Ahlmakoh ; In the Vancouver Islands this is a kind of
demoniac wood-spirit. He plays an important part in
, the ritual as an amulet-dispenser. His nasal mucus is
valued as an amulet for invulnerability.
Ahnfrau : In German superstition she is an ancestress of
some noble family, whose spirit appears to give warning
of an approaching disaster or death, cf. White Lady,
Melusine, Bertha, Death Warnings.
Ahriman : In Zoroastrianism he is the spirit of evil. He stands
at the head of the host of evil spirits - he is the prince of
darkness personified and is malevolent in the extreme.
He was the Evil Principle or Being of the ancient Persians.
l6 A DICTIONARY OF
Ahura-Mazdas : Vide Ormazd.
Airavat : Hind. Myth. A fine elephant. An elephant pro-
duced at the churning of the ocean and appropriated by
the god Indra (q.v.).
Airi • Indian Folklore. The ghost of someone who was killed
in hunting. “ Those who see Airi face to face are burnt
up by the flash of his eye, or are tom to pieces by his
dogs, or have their livers extracted and eaten by the fairies
who accompany him.” (Crooke P.R. J., Vol. I., p. 262 ,
Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 100). cf. Wild Huntsman.
Aiasava : Hindu Myth. The primitive bow of Siva (q.v.),
Swhich fell from heaven at the birth of Prithu. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. 10.)
Ajax : Gr. Myth. The names of two heroes of the Trojan
war, which has remained synonymous with impetuous
warriors.
Akhkhazu : “ The Seizer.” In Babylonian superstition it
was an evil spirit, who had the power of securing his
victim under his control, cf. Labasu.
Akratos : Gr. Myth. It was the potent spirit of the unmixed
wine.
Akupara : Hind. Myth. The tortoise or turtle on which the
earth rests. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 10.)
Vide Earthquake .
Akuti : Hindu Myth. The daughter of Manu, who was given
to the patriarch Ruchi. She bore twins, Yajna and
Dakshina, who became husband and wife and had twelve
sons, the deities called Yamas (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 10).
Aladin’s Wonderful Lamp : ’Ala-ud-Din (Aladin), the son of
a poor tailor, obtains a certain lamp. Every time this
lamp is rubbed, a jinn (q.v.) appears and executes all
his commands. Aladin becomes a rich man, but the lamp
is afterwards obtained by a trick by a magician. After a
series of adventures, Aladm succeeds in killing the magician
and recovering his lamp. (Burton, Alij laila wa laila.)
Alasnam’s Mirror : This mirror remained unsullied when it
reflected a chaste and pure-minded woman, but became
dim when the woman reflected on it was faithless, wanton
and light, cf. Florimel’s Girdle , etc.
Al-A’war : A son of Iblis, a jinn (q.v.), who encourages
debauchery. (Jew. Enc. Vol. IV, p. 521.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Albatross : In sailors’ superstition, this bird is supposed to
cause the wind to blow; if this bird be killed, some
terrible disaster will happen to the ship. (Bassett, p. 128.)
“ And I had done a hellish thing,
And it would work ’em woe :
For all averred I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Ah wretch ! said they, the bird to slay.
That made the breeze to blow.”
Coleridge : The Ancient Manner, II, 3.
Vide Petrel.
A1 Borak : This is the name of the animal which conveyed
Mahomet to the seventh heaven. He not only spoke good
Arabic, but had also a human face. He was brought by
Gabriel. His other peculiarities were : he had the cheeks
of a horse and the wings of an eagle, cf. Balaam’s Ass,
Anon, Achilles' Horses.
Alceste : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Pellias and wife of Admete
(q.v.). After her death Hercules entered the infernal
regions to bring her back to earth again.
Alceus : Gr. Myth. Son of Perseus, grandfather of Hercules.
Alctde : Gr. Myth. Grandson of Alceus. Surname of Hercules
and his descendants. \ .
Alcmseon : Gr. Myth. A son of Amphiraiis, leader of the
Epigoni against Thebes. He was driven mad by the
Erinyes for killing his mother Eriphyle (q.v.). He was
slain by a son of Phegeus.
Alcmene : Gr. Myth. The wife of Amphitryon and mother
of Herakles (Hercules) by Zeus.
Alcyon : A fabulous bird which was supposed to build its nest
on the calm waters of the sea. It was regarded as a bird
of good omen. (Petit Larousse illustre, p. 26.)
Alcyone: Gr. Myth. Daughter of Eolus, wife of the King of
Tr'achis. She and her husband were changed into alcyons.
Alectoria : It is a stone extracted from a capon. It is said
to render the wearer invisible, to allay thirst, to antidote
enchantment and to ensure love. cf. Agate.
Alecto : Gr. Myth. One of the three Erinnys or Furies.
Alectryon : Gr. Myth. A youth sent by Mars to guard against
surprise. He fell asleep, and Apollo surprised Mars and
Venus in each other’s arms. Mars, in anger, changed
Alectryon into a cock. , .
l8 A DICTIONARY OF
„ A entries of bervl found in Siberia ; it shows
Ale^fuWtnCerial co7ours-red and geen-and is
named from the Emperor Alexander of Russia.
Allatu : In Babylonian mythology this is the name o t e
•wife of Nergal (q.v.). Vide Aralu. . _ _
a * n-np of the four branches of the river Ganges,
Siva received upon his head. (DowsON, li.t.L)., p. 11.)
Aipe : In Germany the Mara (q.v.) is usually designated by
AlphitT: In Classical mythology these were beings which
belonged to the same class as the Lamia (q.v.).
A1 Raaim : In the Oor'an (Sura xviii) this is a name connected
with the legend of the Seven Sleepers ; it usually refers
to their dog, now in Paradise and m charge of letters
and correspondence. .
ai „„„ . Tt is a kind of Kobold who brings gold through
A1 the ‘chimneys. (East Friesland, Oldenburg, Wuttke,
p, 2^0).
Alrinach : In Eastern mythology it is the demon who causes
shipwrecks and presides over storms and earthquakes.
When visible, it is always in the form and dress of a
woman (Bassett, p. 69). cf. Nixe, Lorelei, Siren, Jal
Pari, Bugarik.
Al Sirat : An imaginary bridge between the earth and the
Mahometan paradise ; it is not so wide as a spider s web.
Those laden with sin fall over into the abyss below,
cf. Bifrost.
Alsvid : Vide Arvak.
Altar : To dream that you are kneeling at an altar is a bad
omen. . . .
Alte : “ Old one” ; it is the name of a Teutonic field-spint
in human form.
Alu : In Babylonian superstition this was a demon. The word
signifies “ the strong one.”
Alukah : The blood-sucker or vampire (q.v.) of Jewish super-
stition whose two daughters continually cry : Give,
give.” It is none other than the Ghoul (q.v.) of the Arabs.
(Wellhatjsen, Vol. Ill, pp. 135-7)-
Alwantin : In the Deccan it is the spirit of a pregnant woman
one dying on the day of childbirth or within the puerperal
pollution. (Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. II, p. 55.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Amalthea : Class. Myth. The goat which nourished Jupiter.
One of her horns became the horn of abundance.
Amara-Kantaka : " Peak of the Immortals ” ; it is a place
of pilgrimage in the table-land east of the Vindhvas
(Eowsqn, H.C.D., p. ii.) ^ '
Amarum : Among the Quichas of Equador this is one of the
most formidable demons known ; it is of the form of a
huge water-boa. It is the father of witchcraft, and the
souls of sorcerers are said to take up their abode in these
monsters. (Karsten, Indian Tribes of Equador, p. 70.)
Amatongo : A Zulu generic name for the ghost-folk (Callaway ;
Haggard, Nada the Lily, pp. 60, 99, 113, 217, etc.)
Amazons : Gr. Myth. A race of female warriors, generally
supposed to have inhabited the coasts of the river Ther-
medon, in Cappadocia, with whom the Greeks repeatedly
warred. They were said to expose their male children and
to burn (or cut off) their right breasts. The most famous
queens of the Amazons were : Antiope who attacked
Theseus and was vanquished by him ; Fenthesilea who
was killed by Achilles ; Thomyris who caused the death
of Cyrus ; and Thalestris who encountered Alexander.
Amber : It is said to be a concretion of birds’ tears. The birds
which wept amber were the sisters of Meleager, called
Meleagrides, who never ceased weeping for their brother’s
death.
Amber is a cure for sore throats and all glandular
swellings. '
Ambergris : It is said to be the petrification of some interior
part of the whale. (Bassett, p. 240, quoting O’Reilly.)
Ambondrombe : The Hovas of Madasgasear believe that the
ghosts of men and beasts live on this great mountain, and
occasionally walk among the tombs and execution places
(q.v.) of criminals.
Amchi-malghen : It is the guardian-nymph of the Chilians,
(Molina, Chili, Vol. II, p. 86.)
Amenti : Egypt. Myth. The region of the dead ; it is the
subterranean realm, whither the sun descends. The soul,
entering Amenti was conducted by Anubis (q.v.), was-
judged by the forty-two judges, and was then passed on
to Aalu ”(or Elysium), or tortured according to its due.
It corresponded to the Greek Hades or the Hebrew Sheol.
20 A DICTIONARY OF
* ^ 4. . Thp ame.th.vst is an emblem of humility and
An“sog!eW It UdSed to January and Van us. In the
Zodiac" it stands for Sagittarius; m metalling}, for
copper • in Christian Art it is given to St Matthew, and
in the ’Roman Catholic Church it is set m the pastoral
“rof the bishops ; whence it is caUed Prelate s gem.
Amethyst banishes a desire for drink and promotes
chastity. The Greeks thought that it counteracted the
effects of wine. _
Amon : Egypt. Myth. Originally a local deity, and later one
of the chief deities of the Egyptian pantheon ; subsequently,
he was called by the name of Amon-ka (q.v.).
Amnn.Ra • Eevpt. Myth. He was called "the father of the
gods the fashioner of men, the creator of cattle, the lord
bf all being, etc.” He is represented as a man wearing
on his head a disc, surmounted by two tall ostrich plumes.
His wife was Mut, and Chunsu was his son. The rums
of Carnac are the remains of his great Theban temple.
Amphiaraus : Gr. Myth. A hero and seer of Argos, who took
part, among others, in the Expedition of the Seven against
Thebes. He was worshipped as a god at Orpus.
Amphion : Gr. Myth. Son of. Zeus and Antiope ; twin of
Zethus, and husband of Niobe.
Amphitrite : Class. Myth. One of the Nereids (q.v.); wife of
Poseidon (q.v.).
Amphitryon : Class. Myth. Zeus takes the form of Amphi-
tryon and visits Alcmene, his wife, entertains her with a
feast and becomes the father of Hercules.
Amset : Egypt. Myth. He was the man-headed genius of
Amenti. He was associated with the North.
Amulets: In India all kinds of diseases are superstitiously
believed to be cured by wearing different kinds of amulets.
(See advertisements in the daily, weekly or monthly
papers of Calcutta, Bombay, etc.)
Anadydmene : Gr. Myth. An epithet of Aphrodite, alluding
to the legend of her rising out of the sea at birth.
Anaemia: It is believed to be caused by vampires (q.v.)
sucking the blood of the living. (Foster, Observations
during a Voyage round the World, p. 543 1 Enc. Brit.,
Vol. VITI, p. 6; Skeat, Malay Magic, pp. 326 et seq.;
Rhys, Celtic Folklore, p. 673; Ennemoser, History of
Magic, Vol. IT, pp. 185, 480 ; Krauss in Mitteil. d. anthrop.
Gesell. zu Wien, Vol. XVIII. p. 183).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Anafieias ; in .Lithuanian legend it was a high, steep moun-
tain, up which all souls of the dead had to clamber ; claws
of bears and lynxes were therefore burnt with the bodies
to help the deceased in this arduous task.
Anaka-dundubhi : “ Drums ” ; a name of Vasu-deva who
was so called, because the drums of heaven resounded
at his birth. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 14.)
Ananga : “ The bodyless ” ; it is a name of Kama, god of
love.
Ananta : “ The infinite ” ; it is a name of the serpent Sesha.
(Dowson, H.C.D.)
Anat ; Vide Anium.
Anchor : If you dream of an anchor, you will, if a man, be
a sailor, or if a woman, marry one.
Andhaka : A demon, son of Kasyapa and Diti, with a thousand
arms and heads, two thousand eyes and feet ; he was
called Andhaka, because he walked like a blind man,
although he could see very well. (Dowson, H.C.D. , p. 15.)
Andromache : Wife of Hector. After the fall of Troy, she
became a slave of Pyrrhus, son of Achilles. Her name
is symbolic of conjugal love.
Andromeda : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia.
By the decree of Zeus, she was chained to a cliff, to be
devoured by a monster. Perseus returning after slaying
Medusa, killed the monster and married her. When
Phineus, her betrothed, interfered, Perseus changed him
into a stone by means of the Gorgon’s head. Vide Medusa.
Angdistis : Vide Agdistis.
Angel : Angels in popular belief are the supernatural messen-
gers of God.
Children who like to talk of angels, or are unusually
clever, will not live long. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 35.)
To dream of seeing an angel is good, to dream of being
one yourself is better, but if you dream you are speaking
to one or calling on one, it is of evil significance.
Angerboda ; Norse Myth. She was a giantess who, by Loki,
was the mother of the wolf Fenrir (q.v.), the Midgard
Serpent (q.v.) and Hel (q.v.), goddess of the dead.
Angling : To dream of angling presages affliction and trouble.
Angus : Celt. Myth. A Gaelic god of love and amorous
dalliance. He was son of Dugda, whom he cheated out of
his underground palace. His harp was of so sweet a tone
that whoever heard must follow ; his kisses became
invisible love-whispering birds.
22
A DICTIONARY OF
Anilas : Hindu Myth. A class of deities, forty-nine in number,
connected with Anila, the wind. (Dowson, Il.C.D., p. 17).
Animal : No animal dies near the sea, except at the ebbing
of the tide. (Gt. Britain.)
Animal under Yoke : Vide Stones.
Animisha : “ One who does not wink ” ; a general epithet of
all Indian gods. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 17 )
Animism : (As the subject is too vast to be dealt with in a
few lines, the reader is referred to Tylor : Primitive
Culture.)
Anito : The Irayas and Catalangans of Luzon worship the
souls of their ancestors under the name of Anitos. These
are household deities ; some of them reside in pots, and
miniature houses standing near the family dwelling are
sacred to them. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. II, p. 463.)
Ankle Bones : The ankle bones of a hare are superstitiously
believed by the Arabs to be a powerful weapon against
Jinns, Ghouls and even Satan himself. (Hastings, Die
Bib., Vol. IV, p. 603.)
Anne, St. : Vide Riches, Wealth Bestow ers.
Annwn : Celt. Myth. The British Hades, represented as a
sea-girdled, revolving fortress. Gwyn was the leader
of the dead.
‘Anqa : Turkish Folklore. A fabulous bird of enormous size,
said to inhabit the Caucasus range (Redhouse, Turkish-
English Lexicon, Constantinople, 1890, p. 1325; Kunos,
T.F.T.).
He whose head touches the shadow of a flying ‘anqa,
will wear a crown (Zenker, Dictionnaire turc-arabe-persan,
Leipzig, 1876, p. 640.).
Ant : When ants are unusually busy, foul weather is at hand
(Skeat, Malay Magic, p.535).
Ants never sleep. (Emerson, Nature, Vol. II, p. 53.)
To have an ants’ nest made near your door portends
security and riches (Lean, Vol. II, p. 53).
If you dream of ants, you will live in a great town, and
be happy, industrious, well-married, and have many
children.
According to Alexander Ross, the cruel battle between
the Venetians and the Insubrians, as also the one between
the Liegeois and the Burgundians, in which 30,000 men
were slain, was presignihed by combats between two
swarms of ants. Vide Worm.
23
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Anteus : Gr. Myth. A giant, son of Neptune and the Earth,
who was killed by Hercules. Vide Bernardo del Carpio.
Anthony, St. : Cures erysipelas.
Antigone: Gr. Myth. A daughter of CEdipus (q.v.) and Jocosta,
typical of faithfulness and heroism in the Greek ideal
of womanhood. She was her father’s guide after he had
torn out his eyes.
Antiope : A Theban princess carried off by Epopeus. She
became the mother of Amphion and Zethus. She was
maltreated by Dirce, wife of Lycus, and unknowingly
took refuge, with her sons, who were ordered by Dirce
to tie her to the horns of a wild bull. They, on finding
out that she w’as their mother, treated Dirce herself in
the aforesaid manner. ff-Ry-Rf:.:. VyV.A i f: :
Antum : Babyl. Myth. The consort of Anu.
Anu : Egypt. Myth. A mighty king, the first-born of the
gods.' (Sayce, p. 4S3.)
In Babylonian mythology he is the god of the sky or
heavens, and is one of the most ancient deities. His
consort was Antum or Anat.
Anubis : Egypt. Myth. A jackal-god of the necropolis ; he is
usually regarded as a son of Isis and Osiris (q.v.) ; a god
of the' dead ; he guards the dead and superintends their
embalmment and shares with Thoth (q.v.), the office of
the conductor of the dead to the Judgment Hall of Amenti,
whither he guides them by the hand and where he weighs
their hearts against the Feather of Truth and Right.
(Wiedemann, Rel. of Ancient Egyptians, p. 230.)
Anukit : Egypt. Mvth. A goddess of Libyan origin, depicted
as weanng a feather crown. She was worshipped in the
neighbourhood of Philae.
Annuit : Babyl. Myth. A goddess, who was later identified
with Ishtar. / ■ r: Ethy ; !’• a f bh; h ; r
Anunnaki : Babyl. Myth. A group of powerful earth-spirits,
genii or demons, who were servants of gods ; on the whole,
they were hostile to men. They were closely associated
with the Igigi (q.v.).
Apaosa : In Persian means “Drought”; hence drought
personified.
Apepi : Egypt. Myth. The great serpent, who led the
onslaught of the demons against the sun, by whom they
were duly overcome ; thus symbolizing the struggle of
darkness and light. .E.'^ A
A DICTIONARY Of
Aphrodite : Gr. Myth. The goddess of love and beauty, and
of life as expressive of the cosmic power of love.
Apis: Egypt. Myth. The sacred bull, which was considered
as the highest form of animal life.
Apocatequil : In Peruvian legend he was the first son of the
mortal who descended on earth. He recalled his mother
to life, and made an aperture in the earth with a golden
spade, through which the race of the Peruvians emerged
and took possession of the land. (Gaskell, p. 54, quoting
Non-Class. Myth., p. 12.)
Apollo : Gr. Myth. One of the most important of the Olympic
gods, especially conspicuous as the god of manly youth
and beauty, of poetry and music, and of the wisdom of
oracles.
Apollyon : One of the various names of the Devil.
Apoplexy : Vide Fever.
Apparel : If you dream of losing wearing apparel, your character
will be injured by another.
Apparition : An unnatural appearance of a real being ; a
spectre : a phantom.
“ The dominant spirit ... is the apparition of a
figure on horseback without a head.” — W. Irving,
Sketch Book, II.
Apple : If an apple tree blossoms in autumn, it is considered
to be a sign of an approaching marriage. {Lower Saxony,
Wuttke, p. 35.)
If the first apple of a young tree be plucked and eaten
by a woman who has borne many children, the tree
will be sure to bear many apples. ( Bohemia , Grohmann,
p. 143; Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 39).
Appolina, St. : Vide Toothache.
April : Vide Diamond, Sapphire.
Apron : In Vogtland a girl does not allow her lover to dry
his hands on her apron, for fear this would bring about
a quarrel.
If a man wipes himself on a girl's apron, he will fall
madly in love with her (Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 443.)
Apsaras : The Apsaras are the celebrated nymphs of Indra’s
heaven. They are the daughters of pleasure and of
fascinating charms, who lure heroes and sages from their
devotions and penances. They are fairy-like beings,
beautiful and voluptuous, and number about thirty-five
millions. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 20 ; Tylor, Primitive
Culture, Vol. II, p. 173 ; Ward, Account of the Writings
... of the Hindoos, Vol. II, p. 151.) cf. Siren,
Lorelei, Houri, Peri.
25
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Arachne : A young Lydian maiden who excelled in the art
of embroidery. She was changed into a spider, for having
defied Minerva in her arts,
Aracho : It is the Mongol name for Rahu (q.v.).
Aralu : Rabyl. Myth, The abode of the dead, represented
as a vast and gloomy cavern in the midst of the earth,
surrounded by seven walls and ruled over by Nergal
(q.v.) and his wicked consort, Allatu, and their attendant
demons. In this place the dead were supposed to lead
an existence with no hope of return to a brighter life.
Arch Enemy . \ Qther names for the Devil.
Arch Fiend : J
Ardat lili : “ Maids of the night." These, in Babylonian
superstition, were evil spirits who, like the Lilu (q.v.),
plied their trade at night.
Ardha-nari : “ Half woman ” ; a form in which Siva is
represented as half male and half female, typifying the
male and female energies. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 21.)
Ares : Gr. Myth. The god of war and, sometimes, of pestil-
ence ; son of Zeus and Hera, and lover of Aphrodite.
The Romans identified him with Mars.
Arethusa : Class. Myth. A wood-nymph of Elis who, when
pursued by Alpheus, a river, was changed into a river
running under the sea.
Argonauts : Gr. Myth. The heroes who went to win the “ Golden
Fleece.” They were about fifty in number.
Argus : A mythical monster with a hundred eyes ; guardian
of lo.
Ariadne: Class. Myth. Daughter of Minos. She fell in love
with Theseus, who afterwards abandoned her.
Ariane : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Minos. She gave Theseus
a skein of cotton to guide him back after killing the
Minotaur (q.v.) in the labyrinth. Theseus threw this away
and fell into the sea.
Arianrod : Celt. Myth. A Cymric goddess, wife of Gwydion,
mother of Dylan and Lien.
Arion : Gr. Myth. The wonderful horse which Hercules gave
to Adrastos. It not only spoke good Greek, but both its
fore-feet were those of a man. cf. Al Borah, Balaam’s
Ass, Achilles’ Horses.
Arishta : Hindu Myth. A Daitya (q.v.), son of Bali, who
attacked Krishna in the form of a savage bull and was
slain by him. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 21.)
A DICTIONARY OF
26
Aristseus : Class. Mvth. A son of Apollo and the nymph
Cyrene. He was deified as the protector of flocks, shepherds,
the vine and the olive ; he was also the instructor in
bee-keeping.
Arjuna: Hindu Myth. The hero of the great epic Maluibharata.
He was one of the five Pandava brothers.
Arm : If a person has hairy arms, it is a sign that he will
be wealthy. (North Ohio, Bergen, C.S., p. 35.)
Arsaphes : Another spelling for Hershef.
Artemis : Gr. Myth. An Olympian goddess of various attri-
butes. In mythology she is a virgin huntress and goddess
of wild nature. She is the same as Diana (q.v.) of the
Romans.
Artemisia : Leaves of artemisia, tied in a bundle and placed
near beds, drive demons away. (China, Williams, M.K.,
Vol. II, p. 255.) Vide Sweet-flag.
Arthur, King : In current English superstition he is sup-
posed to be still living in fairy-land and will come back to
earth when the proper time arrives. He is said to sit at
the Round Table. Vide Morgaine la Faye, Papillon,
Charlemagne, Raven.
Aruru : Babyl. Myth. A goddess to whom is ascribed the
creation of Gilgamesh and Eabani.
Arva : " A horse.” One of the horses of the moon ; a fabulous
animal, half horse, half bird, on which the Daityas are
supposed to ride. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 25.)
Arvak : Norse Myth. One of the horses of the sun, the other
being Alsvid.
Arvan : Another spelling for Arva.
Aryskoui : An ancient war-god of the Red Indians of America.
Asakku : In Babylonian superstition the Asakku were the
demons who carried and spread plague.
Ascalophos : Son of Acheron. In a Greek tale he was turned
into an owl for telling tales and trying to make mischief.
Ascension Day : In Swabia, on this day, wreaths of red and
white flowers are hung up over stable doors, as a preven-
tive against lightning. (Wuttke, p. 21.)
In North Germany it is believed, that melons planted
on this day grow well. (ib.)
In Hessen it is believed that herbs plucked or collected
on Ascension Day are especially powerful for medicinal
purposes, (ib.) .
Ascanius : Class. Myth. The son of /Eneas and Creusa, who
accompanied Iris father in his wanderings after the fall
of Troy ; later, he succeeded his father.
Asclepius : In later Greek religion he is the god of medicine
and healing.
Ases : Scand. Myth. Gods of benevolence.
Asgard : Norse Myth. It is the abode or the citadel of the
gods. It is situated at the zenith, and can be reached
only by the bridge Bifrost, the rainbow.
Ash : If ash is thrown into the room from a burning log,
troubles and anxieties must be expected. {Greece, Lawson,
p. 328.)
On the tenth night after the death of a person, he who
fired the funeral pyre is required to sift some ashes, near
which a lamp is placed, and the whole covered with a
basket. Next morning the ashes are examined, and the
ghost is said to have migrated into the animal whose
mark appears on the ashes. [India — N.I.N.Q., III, p. 35;
Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 74; Ethnologie du Bengale,
P- 731-
Ashmodai : Jewish lore. A demon, generally regarded as the
same as' Asmodeus.
Ashtoreth : The Phoenician goddess Astarte, the goddess of
fertility and reproduction. She was worshipped from time
to time by the Israelites. Vide Astarte.
Ashur : Assyr. Mvth. The chief deity of the Assyrian pantheon.
He was" the god of military prowess. His symbol was the
winged circle.
Ash Wednesday : Cattle must not be tied up on this day. as
thev lose their strength by so doing ; neither must they
be sold — it brings ill-luck. (Wuttke, p. 22.)
A-Siras : A race of spirits or beings without heads. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p 26.) cf. Acephali, Blemmyce,
Askefruer : “ Ash-nymphs.” These are Danish forest-spirits
of present-day superstition. Their bodies are covered
with hair, their faces are wrinkled, they have hanging
breasts and dishevelled hair and are usually dressed
in moss. They are endowed with various occult powers
and especially with that of curing diseases. (Thiele,
Danmarks Folkesagn.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
1
28
A DICTIONARY OF
Asmodeus : In Jewish demonology it is the name of an evil
spirit of anger and lust. Later, he was the king of the
demons.
Asp : Queen Cleopatra of Egypt is said to have committed
suicide by holding an asp to her bosom.
To dream of an asp is good ; it promises wealth and
a rich wife.
Asrael : Mahometan Myth. An angel of death. He is im-
measurable in height, insomuch that the space between
the eyes equals a journey of 70,000 days. Vide Azrael.
Ass : The mark running down the back of an ass and the
cut at right angles over the shoulders is the cross of Christ,
impressed on the animal, because Christ rode an ass
during his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Three hairs taken from the “ cross ” of an ass, will
cure whooping cough, but the ass from which the hairs
are plucked will die.
The blood of a she-ass will cure epilepsy. (Stracker j an,
Vol. I, p. 84.)
Vide Beans.
As-Sayyahun : These are the “ pious travellers ” of Moham-
medan mythology. They are angels who scour the country
with the intention of frequenting only those gatherings
where the name of Allah (God) is being repeated.
Assides : A plant in the country of Prester John. It not only
protects the wearer from evil spirits, but forces every
spirit to tell its business. (Brewer, R.H.) cf. Tulsi,
Chikuli, Che.
Astarte : The Phoenician goddess of fertility and of sexual love.
By the Classical nations she was also regarded as a moon
goddess. Human sacrifices were often offered to her.
(See Frazer, Adonis, Attis and Osiris).
Asthma : Asthma can be cured by foam (q.v.) from a mule’s
mouth. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. Ill, p. 23; Ethnologie du
Bengale, p. 143).
Asto-vidatu : In Persian superstition it was a spirit who divided
the bones at death.
Astraea : Class. Myth. Daughter of Zeus and Themis. She
was a goddess of justice, and was the last of the divinities
to leave the earth at the end of the Golden Age. She
became the constellation Virgo.
Asur : Same as Ashur.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Asura : Hindu Myth. The word “ Asura ” was originally used
as an epithet of the higher gods ; later, it became synony-
mous with an evil spirit or demon and an enemy of gods
or devas. The Asuras were created from the downward
breathing of a Prajapati, and had darkness and magic
ascribed to them.
In the Rig Veda this was the name given to Varuna
(q.v.) ; later, it denoted a ghostly and demoniacal being
of a lower order. (Otto, Das Heilige, p. 153.)
Asvins : Vedic Myth. Two gods of dawn, twin brothers, young
and beautiful, capable of assuming any forms they chose,
and said to be sons of a nymph. They are the physicians,
of heaven and benefactors of mankind, cf. Dioscuri.
Asynjur : Norse Myth. They were the goddesses of Asgard.
(q.v.), associates of the iEsir (q.v.) and distinguished from
the Vanir (q.v.) goddesses.
Ataguchu : A Peruvian god who helped Apocatequil (q.v.).,
Athanas : Gr. Myth. The mad paramour of Ino (q.v.) who.
slew Ino’s two sons.
Athena : One of the greater Olympian deities, prominent as a
civic goddess, wise in the industries of peace and in the
arts of war.
Atlantides : The Pleiades or seven stars, fabled to be the
daughters of Atlas and Pleione.
Atlantis : A mythical island in the west, said to have been
sunk beneath the ocean by an earthquake. The Atlantic
Ocean is said to derive its name from this island.
Atlas : In later Greek mythology he was a Titan, son of
Iapetus and Clymene. He was forced to support the
heavens on his head and hands, as a punishment for warring
against Zeus.
Atli : In the Volsunga Saga Atli is a king corresponding to
Etzel in the Nibelungenlied ; he marries Gudrun and
invites her brothers to court, where they are treacherously
slain. Gudrun avenges them by killing her own and
Atli’s two sons, and later, Atli himself.
Atma, Atman : The soul, the principle of life ; the supreme
soul. YHGGGG'iGt 'CMCCC;
Atropos : Gr. Myth. One of the Fates (q.v.), or goddesses of
destiny. She is the one who cuts off the thread of life,
cf. Bidhatdpurusha, Fates, Norn, Parca, Hathor, Sudicky .
A Tsze : A fox (q.v.) in human form is known among the
Chinese as A Tsze. (Mayer, Chin. Dead. Man., p. 65.)
3o A DICTIONARY OF
Attis : Class. Myth. A god of vegetation and of young life.
According to a legend, violets sprang from his blood.
He was beloved by the goddess Cybele.
Audhumla : Norse Myth. The cow formed from frost. She
nourished Ymir with four streams of milk, and licked out
of the salty frost stones a being, called Buri (q.v.).
August : Vide Onyx.
Aurora : Rom. Myth. The goddess of dawn. Vide Eos.
Aurora Borealis : It gives warning of an impending war ;
the red light in it denotes the blood to be shed in the
war. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 63.)
Auxo : Gr. Myth. One of the three goddesses known as Heures
(q.v.)
Avalon : The place where Morgaine la Faye (q.v.) keeps Holgar
the Dane entranced.
Axe : If cows, the first time they are taken out in spring,
be made to step over an axe, they will be invulnerable to
all kinds of magic and witchcraft. ( East Prussia, Wuttke,
p. 98.) cf. Weather Bad.
Azi : In Persian means “ Greed ” ; hence greed personified.
Azrael : Another spelling for Asrael, ’Azrail.
’Azrail : Same as Azrael above. In Mahometan mythology
he is the angel of death. He consigns the souls he has
seized to the angels of compassion or to the angels of
punishment, according as they are believers or unbelievers.
B
Baal : The chief male divinity of the Phoenicians. The Assyrians
identified him with Beal (q.v.)
Baba-Yaga : The Baba Yaga of Russian folklore is a hideous
old beldam/whose children are the evil spirits. She is
said to steal children for the purpose of gratifying her
desire for human flesh. She has teeth and breasts of iron,
with which she rends her victims ; her home is in a far
distant forest. (See Ralston, Folktales of the Russians.)
Baby : In Bohemia if a pregnant woman wishes to have a
baby boy, she puts poppy seeds outside on the window
sill ; if a baby girl, sugar.
New-born babies must not be carried over cross-roads ;
ignoring this precaution is equivalent to the signing of
the death sentence of the child. {Pomerania, Wuttke,
p. 194.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Bacchus : Rom. Myth. The god of wine and riotous merri-
ment, son of Jupiter and Semele. He is the prototype of
Dionysus of the Greeks. He helped his father in his wars
with the giants.
Backache : Backache can be cured by keeping chestnuts in
the pocket. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 85.)
Bachelor : At the funeral of a bachelor, cast sand before the
coffin, to blind the eyes of the unbegotten children of the
deceased. {Kurdistan. Jew. Enc., Vol. IX, p. 600.)
Bacon : Bacon, especially if it is stolen, is a powerful medicine
for various diseases, such as warts, fever, constipation,
etc. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 83; Vol. II, p. 85). Vide
Pig, Moon.
Badhava : Hindu Myth. It is a flame with the head of a horse ;
called also Haya-Siras, “horse-head.” (Dowson, H.C.D.,
P- 39-)
Bagouly : The modem name for Pactolus (q.v.),
Bahman’s Knife : When Prince Bahman started on his
exploits, he gave his sister Parizadi, a knife which, he
told her, would remain bright and clean as long as he
was safe and well, but, immediately he was in danger, or
dead, would become dull or drop gouts of blood, cf . Canace’s
Mirror, Sophia’s Picture, Florimel’s Girdle, Ring Bertha’s
Emerald.
Balaam’s Ass : An ass which is said to have spoken Hebrew
on one occasion to Balaam cf. Al Borak, Arion, Achilles’
Horses.
Balder : Teut. Myth. Son of Odin and Frigg, god of light and
peace, and of the good, beautiful, eloquent and wise.
He was slain by the contrivance of the evil Loki. Vide
Hoder, Mistletoe.
Bali : Hindu Myth. A good and virtuous Daitya king ; through
devotion and penance he defeated Indra, humbled the
gods and extended his authority over the three worlds.
(Dowson, H.C.D., p. 42.)
Bali, Balin : A monkey-king of Kishkindhya, who was slain
by Rama, and whose kingdom was given to his brother
Su-griva, a friend of Rama. He was supposed to be the
son of Indra and to have been born from the hair ( bala )
of his mother, whence his name. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 42,)
Balin : Balin and Baiun of Arthurian legend were two knights
who, though brothers, slew each other by mistake.
mm
32
A DICTIONARY OF
Balmung : In the Nibelungenlied it is the name of the famous
sword of Siegfried, cf. Excalibur, Tizona.
Balor : Celt. Myth. A king of the Fomors (q.v.), whose eye
blighted all he looked at. It was therefore always kept
closed, except in war. In the wars with the gods, he slays
Nuada, and is slain by Lugh who blinds his fatal eye with
a magic missile.
Baiun : Vide Balin.
Ban : Babyl. Myth. She is the consort of Nin-girsu and one
of the most prominent goddesses of the pantheon.
Bana : A Daitya, eldest son of Bali ; he had a thousand arms.
(Dowson, H.C.D., p. 42.)
Bandicoote : If a woman eats the flesh of bandicootes after
she has passed her eleventh or twelfth year, she will be
barren ( Western Australia — Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I,
p. 508).
Bangma (masc.), Bangmi (fem.) : A fabulous bird in India,
which is not only supposed to have human speech, but is
also oracular. (Day, Folk-tales of Bengal) cf. Bulbul
Hezar ,
Banmanus : In some Indian dialects means a 14 monkey.’5
(Sanskrit: vana=wood; manushya=man ; man of the
wood.) cf. Monkey , Orang-utang .
Bannik : In Russian folklore this is the name of a household
spirit, who lives in the bathroom. (D.R.JJ., Art., De-
monology, Slavic)
Banquet ; It is good to dream of a banquet ; it denotes
prosperity.
Banshee : It is a supernatural being, supposed by the peasantry
of Ireland and of the Highlands of Scotland, to wail
under the windows of a house, where one of the inmates
is about to die. Certain families of rank were reputed to
have a special spirit of this kind. (Lady W ilde, pp. 135-7 >
D. R. MacAnnalay, Irish Wonders , p. no; Kennedy,
Fireside Stories, pp. 143-4; T. Crofton Croker). cf.
Bodachun Dun , Bozaloshtsh , Death Warnings , Gwrach y
Rhibyn, Smrtnice, Cyhiraeth »
Banyan: Indian folklore. The banyan tree is a representation
of the god Siva. One who cuts this tree is punished with
the extirpation of his family. (Jackson, JF.I JV., Vol. I,
p. 136.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 33
Baptism : If a child cries during baptism, it is the devil going
out of it. ( Niagara Falls, Ont., Bergen, C.S., p. 21.)
Baptismal Water : If a baby girl be baptized with the same
water with which a boy has been baptized just before
she will, in later life, have a growth of beard. ( East
Prussia, Mark , Oberlausmtz . W uttke, p4 198 )
Barahoot : A well in the province of Hadramot> in which
the souls of unbelievers reside. (Lane ASM A
p. 264.) Vide Zemzem .
Barbara, St. : Vide Storms, Dying.
Barbarossa : Frederick Barbarossa, “ Redbeard ” a German
king, is supposed to sit at a marble table in Kyffhauser
His beard is growing through the table. In another
variation of the legend, his beard is growing round the
table, and when it grows three times round the table,
he will wake up.
“ Er ist niemals gestorben,
Er lebt darin noch jetzt;
Er hat im Schloss verborgen
Zum Schlaf sich hingesetzt.
Sein Bart ist nicht von Flachse,
Er ist von Feuerglut,
Ist durch den Tisch gewachsen,
Worauf sein Kinn ausruht.”
— Fr. ROckert: Barbarossa im Kyffhauser.
cf. Holgar the Dane, Charlemagne, Alfred King.
Barley gaffer : The English name of the Gerstenalte.
Barn : To dream of bams stored with com denotes that you
will marry well, overthrow your adversaries at law and
grow rich.
Barnacle : A barnacle broken off a ship turns into a Solan
goose. (Bassett, p. 265.)
“ There are in the north parts of Scotland certaine
trees, whereon do grow shell fishes, etc., etc., which falling
into the water, do become fowls, whom we call barnacles.”
(Gerard, Herbal, 1597, p. 1391 ; Brand, Observations,
Vol. Ill, p. 362.)
“ Like your Scotch barnacles, now a block,
Instantly a worm, and presently a great goose.”
Marston, The Malcontent (1604).
A DICTIONARY OF
34
Barrenness : Barrenness can be cured by drinking water in
which moss growing on the Temple walls has been
boiled. {Jews of Palestine. Schiffer, Ur quell, V, p. 235.)
Menstrual blood cures barrenness (Strack, p. 16.)
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is believed that barren-
ness is caused by the woman cohabiting with the devil
(Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 507, quoting Gluck, Die
Tatowierung dev Haut, etc.) ; among the Chippeway
. Indians, because she is untrue to her husband.
According to the Magyars, a woman may be made
barren if the genitals of a corpse be rubbed with her
menses (Ploss, of. cit., Vol. I, p. 508, quoting V.
Wlislocki) . Vide Bandicoote, Pig, Swallow, Mandrake.
Basilisk : An animal which comes out of the egg of a black
cock. It is so extremely poisonous that it can kill at a
distance by its glance. It is a monster with a human face ;
no human being can look at it and live. cf. Dragon,
Gin-sai, Bazalicek.
Basin : To dream of a basin signifies a good maid.
Basket : If children carry baskets on their heads, they will
not grow tall; (Griffis, M.E., p. 470.) cf. Gun.
Bastard : A woman by giving birth to seven bastard children
regains her virginity (!) (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 127).
Bat : Bats flying about in a house foretell a death. [India]
see also Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 24.)
Of all animals the luckiest is the bat, and happy is he
who keeps a bat’s bone about his person. ( Macedonia —
Abbott, p. no).
The right eye of a bat, carried in the waistcoat pocket,
makes a man invisible. {Bohemia— Grohmann, p. 58.)
Bathing : If you dream of bathing in clear water you will
prosper ; but if in muddy water shame and sorrow will
be your portion.
Bat horin : It is a demon of Jewish folklore, which brings
diseases of the eye to one who fails to wash his hands
after meals. (Bruhl, Jahrbuch, Vol. I., p. 157.)
Bath-tub ; Among the Jews of Galicia it is said that a child’s
bath-tub must not be used for any other purpose,
or the child will not prosper. (Schiffer, Urquell, Vol. V,
p. 141.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 35
Battle : On the day a battle is expected to take place, the
wives of the Tschi-speaking men, who are away with the
army, paint themselves white and run about armed with
guns, or sticks made to look like guns, and taking some
melon-like fruits hack them with knives, as if they were
chopping off the heads of the enemies. (Ellis, The Tschi-
speaking Peoples of the Gold Coast, p. 226.)
Baudoin : Balaam’s Ass (q.v.) was called by this name.
Bay tree : The withering of a bay tree prognosticates death.
The Romans called the bay “ the plant of the good
angel,” because neither sickness nor evil will infest nor
have anything to do in a place where a bay tree is.
BazalRek : In Bohemian superstition it is a kind of a spirit
which is born out of the egg of a black cock. Its look is
so poisonous that no one can look at it and live. (Groh-
mann, p. 18.) cf. Basilisk, Dragon, Gin-sai.
Beads : Among the Hindus, a necklace of beads, used in the
same manner as a rosary (q.v.), is a powerful charm against
malevolent spirits. As an antidote to the Evil Eye blue
beads are especially valued, and are hung round the necks
and pasterns of horses and other valuable animals.
(Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 19; Abbott, p. 144.) cf.
Crucifix.
Beans : If you eat no beans on Christmas Eve, you will become
an ass (Ragner).
If you dream of beans, you will have a rich and cruel
enemy.
On the last night of the year, the head of a Japanese
household scatters beans about the house with ceremonial
rites, in order to exorcise evil spirits (A. Humbert, Le
Japon illusive, Paris, 1870, Vol. II, p. 326; Bertholet,
p. 43. cf. Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 118.)
Bear : Bears scare diseases away ; hence children are taken
for a ride on the back of a bear, or one of his hairs is
worn round the neck as an amulet {India, Crooke, P. R. I.,
Vol. II, p. 242.)
According to a legend, the young of a bear is born a
shapeless mass; the dam licks her cub into its proper
shape and life.
When a bear is slain by the North American Indians,
they will beg pardon of the animal and sometimes even
go through a form of smoking a “ pipe of peace ” with
him, lest his spirit return to do them harm. (Schoolcraft ;
Frazer, G.B., Vol. II, p. 398; Bertholet, p. 12.) Vide
Heart. fiT-CT:
36 A DICTIONARY OF
Beard : In Macedonia a beardless man is regarded as particu-
larly ill-omened. (Abbott, p. 105). In India the same
superstition is prevalent.
If a baby girl be baptized with water with which a boy
has been baptized, she will have a growth of beard later.
(WUTTKE, p. 198.)
Beast : In China it is generally believed to the present day,
that demon witches can assume the form of foxes and
other beasts. (de Groot, Religious Systems of China,
Vol. IV, pp. 156, etc.)
The Stiens of Cambodia ask pardon of the beasts they
have killed (Meuhot).
Beautiful : In Arabic demonology, Jinns (q.v.) sometimes
appear in the form of human beings ; if they are good
spirits, they appear beautiful; if evil, horribly hideous.
(Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 35).
Beauty : Beauty can be acquired by bathing in May dew.
(Wuttke, p. 176), or by drinking cold coffee, or by bathing
in human blood. (Strack, p. 10, quoting Grimm, 181.)
Beaver : When a beaver is hunted, it bites off the part which
the hunters seek and then, standing upright, shows the
hunter that it is useless to continue the pursuit.
Becket, St. : This saint has the power of curing blindness.
Bed : Girls sit on the bridal bed for luck (Meakin, The Moors,
p. 441).
To dream of beds indicates approaching marriage.
Vide Hydrophobia.
Bedclothes : Picking the bedclothes is a sign of an impending
death (Lean, Vol. II, p. 573).
Bedstead : The foot of a bed should not point towards the
door ; those who lie on such a bed will be taken out of the
room as corpses. ( Hessen , Lauenberg, Wuttke, p. 132.)
Bedsteads should not be carried into a room with the
foot-end first ; those lying on such beds will die. ( Silesia ,
ib.)
Bee : The buzzing of a bee in a room indicates that a stranger
is about to pay the house a visit. ( Ethnologic , p. 117.)
If a member of the family dies and the bees are not
“ pnt into mourning,” they will forsake their hive (Frazer,
Death and Burial Customs, Scotland, F.L.J., 3, 281 ;
El worthy, p. 95).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Bees building their hive in a house foretell that the
house will catch fire ( Malay Peninsula, Skeat, Malay
Magic, p. 535)-
It is unlucky for a stray swarm of bees to flight on
your premises (Elworthy, E.E., p. 95.). ' ;; •
If bees swarm on a rotten tree, a death will occur in
the family within the next twelve months.
Bees will never thrive if you quarrel with them or about
them.
A swarm of bees suddenly forsaking their hive foretells
a death (Lady Wilde, p, 181). Vide Virginity, Beehive.
Beehive : If bees build their hives on a house, the house is
sure to catch fire. [Silesia, Tyrol, Wuttke, p. 32 ;
cf. above!)
When going along the street with a beehive; you must
. never look round ; if this precaution be taken' the
■ bees will never forsake their, hives. (Welterau, West-
phalia, Wuttke, p. 183). Vide Bee. :
Beelzebub : One of the Devil’s numerous names.
" One next himself in pow’r and next in crime
Long after known in Palestine and named
Beelzebub . . .”
' Milton : Paradise Lost, Bk. I, 79-81.
Beetle : Beetles in popular superstition are both deaf and
blind. ... ;.UyG:,,..;J/yv V');.; ":-rW _ _ •
To kill a beetle brings rain, thunder and lightning
(Lean, Vol. II, p. 136).
Beggar : The curse of a beggar is considered by the Jews of
Byelostok and Kiev to be effective. (Jew. Enc.)
If you dream of beggars coming in the house and taking
things away, you will have great adversity.
Bel : Babyl, Myth. A deity, belonging to the supreme Triad,
which comprised Anu (q.v.), god of the heavens, Bel,
god of the earth and Ea (q.v.), god of the waters. (Enc.
Brit., Vol. Ill, p. 114.) Vide En-lil.
Belial : It is the Hebrew name for the spirit of evil personified.
The word was used from early times as a name for the
Devil or one of his fiends, and by Milton in his Paradise
Lost, as the name of one of the fallen angels.
Belit : Assyr. Myth. A goddess, wife of Ashur.
Bell : You will be sure of toothache if you eat while a funeral
bell is tolling. Be warned in time by this American
superstition, or take the consequences. Vide Death Omens.
38 A DICTIONARY OF
Bells in the ear : A buzzing sound— generally called “bells
in the ear” — in the right ear of a person denotes that
something good is spoken about him, or that he is praised ;
in the left ear, something bad, or that someone is back-
biting him. (Gt. Britain, Germany, France, Greece,
Bohemia, India ; cf. Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 31 ; .
Lawson, p. 328).
It is an indication that someone is thinking of you,
“ Left your mother,
Right your lover.” — Popular Rhyme.
Bellerophon : Gr. Myth. A Corinthian hero, son of Glaucus,
grandson of Sisyphus, who killed the Chimera (q.v.)
with the help of the winged steed, Pegasus.
Belphegor : The name of a certain arch-demon. According to
a story, he was chosen by Lot to live on earth for ten years,
in order to test the truth of the statement that wives
brought their husbands to hell. Belphegor tried, but was
dismayed and fled from the terrors of the married state.
Belt : Magicians and witches are supposed to possess the
power of transforming themselves into animals, mostly
of a ferocious nature (see Werewolves, Bereserker), by
means of putting on certain belts. (See Ennemoser,
Geschichte der Magie ; Tylor, Primitive Culture ; Grimm,
Deutsche Mythologie ; O'Donnell, Werewolves.)
Bendis : Class. Relig. A Thracian goddess. She was generally
identified with Artemis by the Greeks.
Ben nefilim : In Jewish folk-lore the demon of epilepsy is
usually called by this name.
Benten : In Japanese superstition she is the goddess of luck.
She is also goddess of knowledge and eloquence.
(Chamberlain). See God of Luck.
Berenice’s Hair : Berenice, Queen of Ptolemy III, hung
up her hair in obedience to a vow, in the temple of Nuwar.
The hair disappeared and is fabled to have been carried
to Heaven, where it was changed into a constellation.
Bereserker : In Norse .folk-lore it is the name of one of a
class of wild warriors, who are supposed to be capable
of assuming animal shapes, especially those of the bear
and the wolf. When in these forms, a rage or frenzy
comes upon them, they howl like wolves or growl like
bears, foam at the mouth, have enormous strength and
are believed to be invulnerable to fire and iron. cf. Were-
wolves.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Berlic : A certain Swiss spirit of mischievous nature. ( Talla
Leg. Vaud., p. 27).
Bernardo del Carpio : He lifted Orlando in his arms and squeezed
him to death, because his body was proof against any
instrument of war. Anteus (q.v.) is also reputed to have
been squeezed to death by Hercules.
Bertha : Vide Perchta, White Lady.
Bes : Egypt. Myth. A god of varied attributes, but chiefly
a deity averting the evils of omen and witchcraft, and god:
of pleasure. In some myths he plays an important role
in creation, separating Heaven and Earth from their
primordial union.
Bhaga : Hindu Myth. A deity who is supposed to bestow
wealth ; he presides over marriage. (Dowson, H.C.D.,
P- 43-)
Bhairava : Hindu Myth. A guardian spirit.
Bhairava (m.) ; Bhairavi (f.) : “ The terrible ” ; names of
Siva and his consort, Devi (q.v.). The Bhairavas are
eight inferior manifestations of Siva, all of which are of
a terrible character. They are : (i) Asitanga, black-
limbed ; (ii) Sanhara, destruction ; (iii) Ruru, a dog ;
(iv) Kala, black ; (v) Krodha, anger ; (vi) Tamra-chuda,
copper-crested ; (vii) Chandra-chuda, moon-crested;
(viii) Maha, great (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 45.)
Bhuta : A ghost, imp, goblin. These are malignant spirits
which haunt cemeteries, lurk in trees, animate dead bodies
and delude and devour human beings. They are fierce
and are eaters of flesh ; they were created by the Creator,
when He was incensed. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 55.)
Bhuta, like our English word “ ghost,” is a general term
for demons in India. They emanate from those who
die an unnatural death by violence, accident, suicide,
etc., or those who have been robbers, evil-doers, etc.
The Bhuts eat filth and drink any water, however impure.
As a rule, they are powerless by day and become active
only at night. (See Crooke, P.R., Vol. I, pp. 234 et seq. ;
Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 94.) Vide Goblin, Filth, Desert ,
Treasure.
Biasd na Srogaig : Celt. Folklore. A mythical animal peculiar
to the Isle of Skye. It had but one horn on its forehead
and dwelt in lochs. It is the Celtic equivalent of the
Bogey (q.v.), Bubak (q.v.), Bumann (q.v.). (Campbell,
Sup. of Scot. Right., p. 218.) cf. Unicorn.
4o A DICTIONARY OF
Bible.: An open bible keeps away, evil spirits. [Christian
Countries .) • • ^ ,
The bible is subject to, a host of superstitions, cf. Qoran,
Prayer Book.
Bidhata Purusha : Hindu Myth. He is equivalent to the
Classical Fates' and the Scandinavian Norns. He is a god
of fate ; he writes the child’s future life on its forehead,
on the sixth day of its-birth. (Day, Folk Tales of 'Bengal,
p. 9.) cf. Parca, Fates,- Norn, Sudicky, Hathor.
Biersel : In German superstition it is a kind of Kobold, who
: 4 lives in the cellar, cleans the jugs and bottles, but must
have his jug of beer for his pains. ( Torgau District,
Wuttke, p. 230.)
Bifrost: Norse Myth. The bridge leading to Agard (q.v.);
. cf. Al Sirat.
Bilocation : The power of being present in two different
places at one and the same time.. St. Alfonso di Liguori
was said to have had this power. •
Bilwis : Teut. Myth. . It was a supernatural being of male-
ficent powers, whose season of activity was Walpurgis
Night. This was a soul-like character, which flitted through
• the fields and wrought havoc to the crops.
Bir : In Indian superstition it is a very malignant village
demon (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 254).
Bird : When birds are shot or are dying, they fly to the nearest
water.
Fish are sometimes transformed into birds ( China —
Mayer, Chin. Read. Man., p. 301.)
The single, or twice repeated, cry of a bird is a good
omen ; but if the cry be repeated three times, the meaning
is reversed [Greece— Lawson, p. 313).
If birds enter the house and fly round in a room, it is
a sign of death (le Braz, Vol. I, p. 7, quoting Tierney,
Hermine, Vol. XXXIII, p. 235).
Birth : Children cannot be born till the tide comes in.
If you are bom at sermon-time on Christmas morning,
you can see spirits. (Ragner.)
“ First a daughter, then a son.
The world is well begun.
First a son, then a daughter.
Trouble follows after.”
Maine and Massachusetts (Bergen, C.S., p. 24).
. Vide Night, Distaff, Star, Crow, Friday, Kitten, Stork,
Sugar, Tomb, Underclothing.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Birthday : To die on one’s own birthday is considered by
the Jews to be a good omen. (Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p. 486.)
Bishamon : Jap. Myth. A god of luck (q.v.), represented as
being in complete armour and carrying a spear.
Bittern : The cry of a bittern foretells some misfortune,
probably death. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 26.)
Biu : In Egypt they have usually hawks’ or jackals’ heads ;
but some biu are entirely birds.
Blaakula : Like Blocksberg of the Germans, it was the favourite
resort of the Swedish witches. (Lehmann, A.Z., p. 112 •
Ennemoser, Hist. Mag., Vol. II, p. 195.)
Black : Black denotes death and guilt ; therefore the Devil
is always black. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 68.)
Blackbird : To see two blackbirds in one place is an omen
of good luck in the East. (St. Clair Tisdall, Mod. Pers.
Corn. Gram., 2 Ed., p. 45, Exercise II.)
If you dream of a blackbird and a thrush sitting on the
same tree, you will have two wives, or two husbands as
the case may be.
Blain : St. Cosmos is the one who can cure them.
Blaise, St. : Vide Quinsy, Sore Throat, Disease.
Blarney Stone : An inscribed stone in the wall of an old castle
at Blarney, near Cork, Ireland ; whoever kisses it will
have a cajoling tongue (Ireland).
Blast : It is a large round tumour which is thought to rise
suddenly on the part affected by the baneful breath cast
on it by fairies at the time of their vindictive malice.
(Elworthy, E.E., p. 534.)
Blemmyse : A race of people described by Pliny, and said
to be headless ; they have their eyes and mouths in their
breasts, cf. Acephali, A-Siras.
Blindness : The human saliva is a cure for blindness (Elworthy,
E.E., pp. 420, 663 note).
St. Thomas a Becket has the power of curing this
disease.
If the copper coin from the eyes of a corpse be washed
in wine or water, and the liquid given to husbands to
drink, the husbands will be blind to their wives’ pecca-
dilloes (Krauss, Volksglaube und religiose r Branch der
Sudslaven, p. 140.)
To dream of blindness indicates want of money. Vide
Shabriri, Saliva.
D
A DICTIONARY OF
4?
Blindness* Moon ;: It is commonly believed to be produced
by sleeping exposed to the full light of the moon. “ There
is a great difference of opinion as to facts, some quoting
experience as incontrovertible, others regarding the thing
merely as a vulgar prejudice, without substantial founda-
tion ” (Yule and Burnell, Hobson Jobson, 2 ed., p. 580).
Blindness, Night: This can be cured by eating a fire-fly,
enclosed in a piece of banana or some other soft fruit.
(Bengal, Ethnologie du Bengale, pp. 118, 141.)
Blocksberg : It is believed to have been the favourite place
of rendezvous of the German and the Danish witches.
The Devil himself is said to have attended the gatherings
there. (Grimm, Deut. Myth ; Lehmann, A.Z., p. 112 ;
Ennemoser, Hist. Mag., Vol. II, p. 195.) cf. Blaakula,
Brocken, Hekkenfeldt, Hekla, Lyderhorn.
Blood : To see blood is a sign of good fortune, probably money.
( Gt . Britain.)
Witches sign their names on a great book with their
own blood and swear allegiance to the Devil. (Lehmann,
A.rL., p. 114. cf. Goethe, Faust ; Strack, Das Blut.)
The burning of blood from the body of a dead animal
is a very common method of appeasing the spirits of
disease ( Cornwall — Hunt, Pop. Rom., p. 2x3).
It is an Esthonian belief that men who see women’s
blood will suffer from an eruption of the skin (F. J. Wiede-
mann, Aus dem inneren und dusseren Leben der Lhsten,
P- 475)-
The blood of a virgin mixed with different molten metals
helps to mix them thoroughly. (China, Pitman, A
Chinese Wonder Book, p. 34.) The same belief is prevalent
among many other nations. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. I,
p. 361.)
If a young man cuts the little finger of his left hand,
and secretly gives the blood flowing from this wound to
his sweetheart to drink, she will be madly in love with
him. (Ploss, Das Weib.V ol. I, p. 444, quoting v. Schulen-
burg, Windisches Volksthum.)
Draw blood of a witch, and she cannot harm you
(Lancashire). Vide Hydrophobia, Nose, Menstruation,
Beauty, Epilepsy.
Blood-stone : A kind of stone which is believed to have the
power of stopping a flow of blood. (Tylor : Early History
of Mankind.)
Blood-sucker : In East Prussia the Vampire (q.v.) is usually
designated by this name.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Bloody Hand : The family of the Kincardines in Scotland
have the Spectre of the Bloody Hand.
Blud : The Wend name for a Will-o’-the-wisp (q.v) • it is
the soul of an unbaptized child.
Blue : The Devil appears in the form of a blue flame (Stracker-
JrA1?’ V°l. II, p. 69), especially in fires IGt. Britain).
Vide Bnde . '
Blue Goblin : It is a particularly malevolent type of demon
in Carnarvonshire.
Blue. Men . *IL6 fallen angels were driven out of Paradise
in three divisions, one became the Fairies of the land,
one the Blue Men in the sea and one the Nimble Men
... or Merry Dancers of the sky.” — Campbell: Sup.
of Scot. Highl., p. 199.
Boar : In Morocco most wealthy Moors keep a wild boar in
their stables, in order that the jinn or evil spirits may
be diverted from the horses and enter into the boar.
(A. Leaked, Morocco and the Moors, Lond., 1876, p. aoi :
Frazer, G.B., Vol. Ill, p. 15.) 7 F
Boat : It is unlucky to mention a horse or a mouse on a fishing
boat ( Celtic , Rhys, C.F., p. 345 ; Frazer, G.B., Vol. I,
P- 453)-
A boat would not proceed if there is a man on board
who has failed to keep his word ( Turkey , Kunos, T.F.T.,
p. 185). _
If a girl dreams of falling off a boat and being rescued
by a man, she will marry her rescuer.
Boback Gartin : Is the name of the one-time spirit of Gartinbeg
House.
Bodachun Dun : “ The ghost of the Hill ; ” it is said to
appear to the family of Rothmurchas in Scotland when
a person belonging to the family is about to die. cf.
Banshee, Death Warnings, Bozaloshtsh, Smrtnice.
Bogey : In English children's superstition it is a spirit of
a vague and indefinite nature, whose only aim in life
seems to be that of frightening children, cf. Bubdh,
Bumann, Biasd na Srogaig.
Boggart : In Lancashire this is a peculiarly mischievous
spirit and is closely allied to the Brownies.
Boil : Boils can be cured by keeping muscatels in one’s pocket.
(Strackerjan, Vol. T p. 85.)
St. Rooke can also cure boils.
Bolt : Vide Lock.
44 A DICTIONARY OF
Bone : It is lucky to find bones (Wuttke, p. 96). Vide Lucky
Finds .
Bonnet : To dream of losing a bonnet prognosticates a speedy
marriage.
Bonze : If a Japanese fisherman, while going to fish, meets
a bonze (priest), he is sure to have bad luck m fishing ;
the strict bonze does not eat fish. (Griffis, M.E., p. 470 ;
Bassett, p. 108.) cf. Priest.
Boobrie : The Boobrie of Celtic superstition was a Water-
bird, which inhabited the fresh water and the sea wells
of Argyllshire. (Campbell, Tales of the Highlands;
Bassett, p. 272.)
Book : To drop your books on the way to school signifies
that you will make mistakes in your lessons. ( Chester -
town, Md .)
Boreas : It is the name of the North Wind personified.
Bornholm : In Danish superstition, the king of the elves is
said to reside in the island of Bornholm. (Thiele.)
Boxing : If you spit on your hands your blows will be more
telling.
Bozaloshtsh : “ God’s plaint ” ; among the Wends she is a
messenger of death. She is a little woman with long
hair, who cries like a child, beneath the window of a house
where someone is about to die. cf. Banshee, Smrtnice,
Death Warnings.
Bracelet : Vide Nurjehan’s Bracelet.
Bragi : Norse Myth. One of the iEsir, god of poetry and
husband of Ithunn (q.v.).
Brahma : Hindu Myth. The first member of the Trimurti.
He is the Creator himself. In the Rigveda he signified
power. He is represented as red with four heads, the
fifth one being destroyed by Siva. His consort is Saraswati,
the goddess of eloquence.
Brahmadaitya : In India it is the spirit of a murdered Brahman.
In Bengal such spirits are especially powerful and malicious.
Sometimes they are headless trunks, with eyes looking
from their breasts ; at others, they are harmless and even
well-disposed towards human beings. (See Ethnologic du
Bengale, p. 96.)
According to Rev. L. B. Day, Brahmadaityas are the
ghosts of Brahmans who die unmarried. (. Folktales of
Bengal, p. 201.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Brawn’s Head : A boy brought to King Arthur’s court a
brawn’s head, over which he drew his wand thrice and
said . “ There’s never a traitor or a cuckold, who can
carve that head of brawn.” Sir Kay was the only knight
in King Arthur’s court who succeeded in doing so.
cf. Drinking Horn, M antle.
Bread : Bread baked on Christmas Eve will not turn mouldy.
(Thiers, Traite des Superstitions, Vol. I, p. 317).
To bum or throw bread away brings ill-luck ; do so and
you will need bread yourself one day. (Gt. Britain.)
He who cuts a slice of bread more than the number
of persons eating has a hungry relative somewhere.
(Silesia, Tyrol, Wuttke, p. 37 ; Bohemia.)
To drop a slice of bread with the buttered side up is
a sign of a visitor. (Memoirs of the Amer. Folk Lore Soc.
Vol. IV, pp. 89 seq.)
The Mohammedans never cut bread with a knife, but
“ break ” it, saying it is impious to wound bread with
steel. (Abbott, p. 103.)
In Scotland (Gregor, p. 21), and in Brittany (le Braz,
Vol. I, p. 267), on the night following a burial, bread and
water are kept in the room where the body lay before
the burial. Failure to comply with this precaution
causes the deceased to lose his repose in the other world.
In Ireland, potatoes and baked cakes are substituted
for bread, and serve the same purpose. (Lady Wilde,
p. 118.)
“ In your pocket for a trust
Carrie nothing but a crust.
For that holy piece of bread
Charms the danger and the dread/'
Herrick : Hesperides , ed. Hazlitt, 1869, p, 346.
If a piece of bread which has been carried in the pocket
of a mourner, be afterwards eaten, the teeth will fall out.
(Hunsbruck, Wuttke, p. 213.)
It is good to dream of bread ; it indicates prosperity.
Vide * Fruits , Change of Address , Disease *
Breadcrumb: Maras (q.v.) can be killed by shooting them
with a gun filled with breadcrumbs ; ordinary shots have
no effect on them. (Strackerjan, VoL I, p. 385.)
Breakage : If you break something, you will break two other
things. (Memoirs of the Amer . Folk Lore Soc., Vol. IV,
pp. 130, 134 ; Great Britain .)
A DICTIONARY OF
46
Bream- In Hungary the bream is said to attack men vora-
ciously. (Gubernatis, Z.M., Yol. II, p. 344 ; Bassett,
p. 261.)
Breath: In Chinese superstition it is said that the breath of
a living person or the snuffing by a cat or a dog partly
revives a corpse. {Chin. Volksmdrchen , p. 202.)
Breeze: A sudden breeze which neither disturbs nor dis-
arranges anything is a death signal for certain Irish
families. It is said to be caused by the passage of the
soul. (Lady Wilde, p. 139.)
Scratch a foremast with a nail, you will get a good
breeze. (KtfHN und Schwartz, N.D.S., p. 454 ; Bassett,
p. 143.) Vide Chapel.
Breidablik: Norse Myth. The bright abode of Baldar in Asgard.
Bress: Celtic Myth. A Fomor, son of Elathan, known for his
great beauty.. In his attempt to recover his kingdom,
he roused the Fomors to the war in which they were
overthrown by the gods.
Briar: If you dream of being pricked by briar, you desire to
do something, and if you are young, it denotes that you*
.. are in love.
Bridal Clothes: It is unlucky to wear the bridal clothes before
the wedding day ; the marriage will be broken off by so
doing. [Pomerania, Silesia, Wuttke, p. 204; France,
Great Britain.)
Bride: It is extremely lucky for a bride to see a rainbow or
a black cat. ( Great Britain.)
A bride on her wedding day should wear
“ Something old, something new.
Something borrowed, something blue.”
Vide Green, Stones. — Popular rhyme.
Bridesmaid: " Three times a bridesmaid, never a bride.”
{Great Britain.)
It is lucky for bridesmaids to touch the bride during
the marriage ceremony, with their clothes ; if they
succeed, they will themselves be married soon. {Munich.
Zeitschrift fur deutsche Mythologies, 103.)
Bridge: If you dream of crossing a bridge, it shows that you
will leave a good situation to seek a better one.
Brigit: Celtic Myth. The Gaelic goddess of fire and hearth
and of poetic inspiration. She was the daughter of Dagda
and wife of Bress.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Brisingamen: Norse Myth. A jewel or necklace, belonging to
Freya, which was obtained from the dwarfs.
Brocken: In the Harz Mountains (Germany) it is believed to
be the favourite haunting place of witches. (Ennemoser,
Hist. Mag., II, 195.) cf. Blocksberg, Blaakula, Hekken-
feldt, Hekla, Lyderhorn.
Broom: Witches fly through the air on broomsticks [General).
Two crossed brooms in front of a house door or cattle-
shed, is a sure method of keeping witches and evil spirits
at bay.
Tables should not be dusted with a broom lest one of
the household die. (. England ; Jews of Galicia, Schiffer,
L r quell, Vol. V, p. 46.)
A Hamburg tradition says that if you have long had
a contrary wind, and meet a ship bound in the opposite
direction, throw a broom before her, and you will get
fair wind. (Thorpe, N.M., Vol. Ill, p. 183.)
In Indian folklore, if a man sees a broom the first
thing after getting up in the morning, he does not pass
the day happily ; if a broom be kept erect in the house,
a quarrel will follow. (Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p. 149.)
Further, children affected with a cough are sometimes
fanned with a broom. ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 140.)
Broomstick: Witches cannot stride over a broomstick.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 344.) Vide Broom above.
Brother: Three married brothers should not dwell in the same
town. [Jew. Enc., Vol. IX, p. 600, quoting Sefer Hasidim,
p. 33 ; cf. Deut. xxv. 5.) This probably accounts for the
roving propensities of the Jews.
Brownie: A benevolent spirit or goblin of shaggy appearance,
supposed to haunt old houses, especially farm-houses
in Scotland, and sometimes to perform useful household
work while the family is asleep. (See Hazlitt, p. 79.)
“ The brownie formed a class of beings, distinct
in habit and disposition from the freakish and
mischievous elves.” — Scott, Ministr. Bord.
Brunhilde: In the Nibelungenlied, a young and stalwart queen,
a Valkyrie, whom Siegfried, making himself invisible by
means of the Tarnkappe, wins and tames for Gunther.
When she learns of this deception from Siegfried’s wife,
Kriemhild, she induces Hagen to treacherously murder
Siegfried by stabbing him at the back between the
shoulders, the only part where he was vulnerable.
A DICTIONARY OF
48
Brunnehilde : In the “ Ring of the Nibelungen,” a Valkyrie
who aids Siegmund against the will of Wotan (Wodan),
and is placed in a fire-guarded stronghold. She sleeps there
until awakened by Siegfried, upon whose pyre she even-
tually immolates herself.
Brushwood: The Khonds place brushwood in the paths leading
to places decimated by smallpox and other diseases, in
the hope of making the disease-demon retrace his steps.
{Enc. Brit., Vol. VIII, p. 6. Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 132.)
Brynhild: In the Volsunga Saga, a Valkyrie who for having dis-
obeyed Odin, was condemned to become mortal, and was
placed in an enchanted castle. Sigurd wakes her from her
sleep and they fall mutually in love. She is, however,
married to G'unnar. Brynhild procures the death of
Sigurd, slays herself with the same sword, and is burnt
on the same pyre.
Bubak: In Bohemian superstition, it is a kind of spirit, whose
name is very frequently mentioned to frighten children,
cf. Bogey, Bumann, Biasd na Srogaig.
Bubble: A group of bubbles on a cup of tea or coffee signifies
money. ( Great Britain ; Memoirs of the American Folk
Lore Society, Vol. IV, p. 87.)
Bucket: It is unlucky to come across an empty bucket on
first going out, but lucky to pass a full one. {General ;
Jew. Enc., Vol. IX, p. 600.)
Bug: Bugs never infest a dying person (Lean, Vol. II, p. 579.)
Vide Flea, Vermin.
Bugarik: The Garos of Assam believe this to be a lovely siren,
whose head floats on the current. She has the body and
arms of a woman, but no legs. She is supposed to kill
women and men too, if she can catch them. (A. Play-
fair, The Garos; Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 99). cf. Mer-
maid, Nixie, Siren, Lorelei, Alrinach.
Building: If during the building of a house someone acciden-
tally dies, it is a sign that many deaths will occur in the
house. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 35.)
To dream of an unfinished building denotes future
prospects for you, though the present may seem black.
If a house be newly built, the owner thereof will shortly
die (Goodrich-Freer, Folklore, XIII, 52 ; le Braz,
Vol. I, p. 157.) _
Houses in which someone has been burnt to death are
not rebuilt. (Curtin, Tales of the Fairies, p. 113.)
(See Word-Lore, Vol. I, p. 195.)
Bulbul Hezar; Muham. Myth. A nightingale which not only
had human speech, but was oracular also. (Burton,
A lif laila wa laila, Lane.) cf. Bangma.
Bulderbasse : The Danish name for a Poltergeist.
Bull: According to the Moslems, a bull supports the earth on
its back.
Bulla: An ornament, worn by Roman children, which con-
tained charms and was originally intended to ward off
ghostly anger.
Bullet: “ Among the Galelareese, who inhabit a district in
the northern part of Halmahera, a large island to the
west of New Guinea, it is a maxim that when you are
loading your gun to go out shooting, you should always
put the bullet in your mouth before you insert it in the
gun ; for by so doing you practically eat the game that
is to be hit by the bullet, which therefore cannot possibly
miss the mark.” (Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 25, quoting
M. J. van Baarda, “ Fabelen, verkalen en overlev eningen
der Galelareezen” in “Bijdragen tot de Taal, Land . . . en
Volkenkunde van nederlandsch Indie, XLV (1895),
p. 502.)
Bullkater : “ Tom-cat ” ; is a German field-spirit.
Bullock: If a woman dreams of a bullock, it warns her of a
powerful enemy.
Bumann: In German children’s superstition, it is a bogey of
an indefinite nature. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 422.)
cf. Bogey, Bubak, Biasd na Srogaig.
Bur: Babyl. Myth. Another name for Adad.
Bud: Norse Myth. The progenitor of the gods, licked out of
the stones by Audhumla.
Burial: Male and female slaves were buried alive with the
dead headsmen of various African tribes to administer
to his wants in the spirit world. (Haggard, Nada the
Lilv, p. 166.) This practice is, in the opinion of some
authors, still in vogue among the Chavas of the Zambesi
district.
In the foundations of houses, towns, cities, etc., people
were once buried alive in Teutonic countries. (Grimm,
Deut. Myth., 2 Aufl., pp. 38 etc., 1095 ; Tettau und
Temme, Volkssagen, p. 109) ; in Siam [Enc. Rel. Eth.,
' Art. “ Siam ”) ; among the Slavs (cf. the legend of the
Kremlin Palace in Moscow) ; in France (Berenger-
F fraud) ; in India (see Yak, Yaksha) ; in Wallachia
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
5<>
A DICTIONARY OF
(St. John, Legends of the Christian East, p. 187). See also
Word Lore, Vol. I, p. 195 ; Frazer, G. B., Vol. I, p. 145 ;
Schmidt, Das Volksleben der Neugriechen, pp 194 seq. ;
Elworthy, E. E., p. 82 ; Bertholet, Transmigration
of Souls, p. 12 ; Prohle in Zeitschr. f. deut. Myth., Vol. I,
p. 202. cf. Sail, First Buried, Last Buried.
To dream of being buried signifies a serious fit of illness.
Burning Ghats: They are the favourite haunts of many evil
spirits and are therefore not safe at night. (India.)
Buschweiber: The “ Wild-maidens ” or forest-spirits of German
superstition.
Bush-asp: A Parsi demon with long hands, who lulls men
to sleep and attacks them. (Venidad, XVIII, 38.)
Busyasta: In Persian mythology it is the typification of
inordinate sleep and sloth.
Busiris: A legendary King of Egypt who sacrificed all strangers
at the altars of the Egyptian gods. He was slain by
Hercules.
Butter: The first butter churned should not be sold or given
away, but it should be eaten at home ; if this is not done
the cow will not give any more milk. (Mecklenburg.
Wuttke, p. 135 ; Bohemia.)
Stolen butter cures warts (q.v.). (N. and Q., 24-10-1925.)
Butterfly: If you do not kill the first butterfly you see in the
year, some bad luck will befall you (IF. England. Lean,
Vol. II, p. 32.)
Butterflies are the souls of ancestors. (Ireland. Rhys,
C.F., p. 612.)
Butterflies flying by night presage death. (G. Hender-
son, Survivals in Belief among the Celts, p. 79.)
Button : In America, superstitious women usually ascertain
the profession of their future husband by counting the
buttons on their skirts and repeating the following verse :
“ A doctor, a lawyer, a merchant, a chief,
A rich man, a poor man, a beggar-man, a thief.”
Vide Doubt. — Knortz, p. 98.
Butze: A German household spirit.
Bwgan: The Welsh generic name for ghosts.
Cabbage: Vide Full Moon, Moon Waxing.
Cacus: Rom. Myth. A thieving, crafty giant, a son of Vulcan.
He was killed in his cave in the Aventine by Hercules.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Cadmus : Gr. Myth. A son of Agenor, king of Phoenicia, founder
of Thebes. He killed a dragon, from whose teeth a host
of armed men sprang up and fought each other, till all
but five were killed ; later, these five became the ances-
tors of the Theban families.
Caesarian Operation: Babies brought into the world by this
means are said to possess extraordinary strength ; also
they are endowed with the power of seeing hidden treasures
and spirits. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 156. cf. Shakes-
peare, Macbeth, v. 7.)
Cage: If a maiden dreams that she has let the bird out of the
cage, it is a sign that she will be the mistress of the first
man who chooses to ask her.
Cake: If you dream that you are making a cake, you will
have joy and profit. Vide Wedding Cake.
Calcutta: There is a story : One of the first European settlers
in India came to the place now known under this name,
and asked a native what the name of the place was.
Owing, however, to the bad pronunciation of the European
who wished to say kyd kahta ? (What is it called ?),
but said instead, kab kata (When did you cut ?), the native
misunderstood him and thinking that he was referring
to a tree that had recently been felled, answered, kal
kata (felled yesterday) ; hence the name.
Call; Witches sometimes ride on calves. (Strackerjan,
Vol. II, p. 84.)
Call: Calling a dead person three times in succession by his
name, forces him to appear and to lose his tranquillity
in the spirit world ( East Prussia) ; in Silesia, this holds
good only on Christmas Eve. (Wuttke, p. 216.) Vide
Death Omens.
Calliope: Gr Myth. The muse of epic poetry and eloquence,
mother of Linos and Orpheus. She is represented either
with a tablet or with a roll of paper.
Callirhoe: Class. Myth, (i) Wife of Alcmseon, and the cause,
through covetousness, of his death, (ii) An ocean nymph,
wife of Chrysaor.
Callisto: Gr. Myth. Daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia.
She was changed bv Juno into a bear, in which shape she
was killed by Artemis. Jupiter took her to Heaven and
she became the constellation Great Bear.
Calvdonian Boar-Hunt: Gr. Myth. It was the pursuit by a
band of heroes of the boar, sent by Artemis to ravage
Calydon. The boar was finally slain by Meleager.
A DICTIONARY OF
52
Calypso: Gr. Myth. A sea-nymph who kept Odysseus (Ulysses)
in her island, Ogygia, for seven years.
Camel : Arabs sacrificed camels on the grave of the owner
(Bertholet, p. 12 ; cf. ibid. p. 22 ; Macdonnel, Vedic
Mythology, p. 165 ; Handbook to the Ethnographical
Collections of the British Museum, 1910, p. 33, fig. 30.)
cf. Burial, Horse, Sati.
Camphor: Vide Adultery.
Canace’s Mirror: It indicated by its lustre if the person, whom
the inspector loved, was true or false, cf. Bahman’s
Knife, Sophia’s Victure, Florimel’ s Girdle, Ring Bertha’s
Emerald.
Candle: To have three candles burning at the same time in
a room is unlucky. {Great Britain.)
In Ireland, twelve candles are kept alight around a
dead body because otherwise the devil may carry the
soul away. Evil spirits cannot cross a circle of fire.
(Lady Wilde, p. 118.)
A film of tallow, called a “ winding sheet,” shot from
the top of a lighted candle, gives warning to the house of
an approaching death.
A candle burning with two distinct flames is, in parts of
Germany, an omen of an approaching death ; in Austria,
Silesia, Hesse, Tyrol and Swabia, this is a sign of a
letter. (Wuttice, p. 37.)
If you dream of a candle burning brightly, you will
receive a pleasing letter from your sweetheart.
Candle Glowing: Virgins have the power of blowing into
flame a candle still glowing. (Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 90 ; Grimm, Deutsche Rechtsalterthiimer, 1828, pp.
932-933-) cf. Light.
Cane: “ Salonica schoolboys hold that a hair stretched across
the palm of the hand will make the master’s cane split.
English schoolboys entertain an identical belief in a hair,
but it must be a horse hair. ‘ If the hair be plucked
fresh from the tail of a living horse so much the better.’ ”
(Abbott, _ p. 301, quoting T. Parker Wilson, “ School
Superstitions ” in Royal Magazine, September, 1901.)
Cannon-ball: The Chinese fire cannon-balls at the bore in
Canton river, while some shoot arrows. (Bassett, p. 23,
quoting Dennys.)
Canopic Jars: The four jars containing the principal intestines
of a deceased person and buried with the mummy.
Canwyll Cyrph: Welsh name for Corpse Candles.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Cards: During a game of cards, the devil sits under the table,
and if any of the party swears, up jumps the devil behind
. him, tail and hoofs and all. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 262.)
Carpo: Gr. Myth. One of the Heures (q.v.).
Carrying: It is unlucky to carry anything out of a house
on Christmas morning until something has been brought
in. (Ragner.)
Cassia tree: High medicinal virtues are attributed to the
leaves and barks of the cassia tree. (China. Mayer,
Chin. Read. Man., p. 101.)
Cassiopeia: Gr. Myth. She boasted that her beauty was equal
to that of the Nereids. As a punishment, Poseidon
afflicted the land with floods and a devouring monster,
which was afterwards slain by Perseus. Vide Andromeda.
Castor: One of the Dioscuri (q.v.).
Cat: If a domestic cat washes herself, visitors will come.
(Alsace. Lambs, p. 31.)
Cats on the deck of a ship are said to “ carry a gale of
wind in their tail,” or to presage a coming storm.
When cats are very assiduous in cleaning their heads
and ears, it prognosticates rain (Hazlitt, p. 96 ; Abbott,
p. no) ; or it indicates the point of the compass from
which wind is expected (Greece. Lawson, p. 328).
The sneezing of a cat indicates good luck for a bride.
If a cat sneezes thrice, a cold will run through the
family (Great Britain).
If a cat crosses your path, ill luck will follow you
(Germany, Bohemia) ; a cat cleaning herself denotes
guests (North and Central Germany. Wuttke, p. 32).
Satan’s favourite form is that of a black cat, hence it
is the familiar of witches. (General; Ennemoser, Hist.
Mag., Vol. II, p. 148.)
A cat has nine lives.
Whoever kills a cat will never have good luck (Mace-
donia, Abbott, p. no ; Malay Peninsula, Skeat, Malay
Magic, p. 191).
In Teutonic countries a cat or a dog_ was made to run
into a new house before others entered it, as a precaution
against possible accidents (Grimm, Deut. Myth. pp. 972,
1-095)- '
Black cats bring luck.
A strange tortoiseshell cat coming into the house is
unlucky. (Great Britain).
54
A DICTIONARY OF
Tom-cats of a tortoiseshell colour are highly prized in
Japan as a preventive against shipwreck. (Chamberlain,
Ger tr. p. 297) ; or they bring luck to the owner {England).
There is a Hungarian proverb that a cat does not die
in water, hence its paws disturb the surface. “The cat
in folklore is commonly diabolical, and in the bag of
proverbs has probably a diabolical allusion. The popular
idea that she has nine lives, expresses its mystic character.”
(Gubernatis, Z.M., Vol. II, pp. 64 s;q.)
A cat jumping over a dead body causes vampirism.
{Greece. Lawson, p. 410.)
If a man dreams of a cat, and the cat scratches him,
his sweetheart is a spiteful termagant ; if a woman
dreams the same, she has a rival.
Vide Dogs, Shingles.
Caterpillar: These will be plentiful if you go into the garden
on a Good Friday. (Wuttke, p. 18.)
Catherine, St.: She resolves doubts.
Catseye: It is considered by the Cingalese as a charm against
witchcraft and to be the abode of some genii.
Cattle: To dream of cattle portends money. {U.S.A. Knortz,
p. 21.)
Excessive lowing of cattle indicates much rain or
snowfall. (Inwards, p. 153 ; Abbott, p. m.)
Caul: Children bom with a caul are lucky ; they cannot be
drowned {Great Britain, Brand, Observations, Vol. Ill,
p. 114; Times, 20-2-1813, 27-2-1813, 8-5-1848; Hazlitt,
p. 99 ; Abbott, p. 139), and they are impregnable to
the machinations of evil spirits. (Strackerjan, Vol. II,
p. 127.)
Celaeno: One of the Harpies (q.v.).
Celestial Fox : Chinese Folklore. It is of a golden colour and
possesses nine tails ; it serves in the halls of the Sun
and the Moon, and is versed in all the secrets of nature.
(Mayer, Chin. Read. Man., p. 65.)
Cemetery : A handful of earth taken from a cemetery, and
thrown at a mill will stop its motion. (Gregor, p. 216.)
Centaurs : Gr. Myth. A race of savage beings, said to have
lived in Thessaly. They were exterminated in a furious
battle by the Lapithes. Poets have regarded them as
monsters, half human and half horse.
55
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Cerberus : Class. Myth. A dog, described by Hesiod as fifty-
headed, and by . later writers as three-headed, with a
serpent’s tail and serpents about his body, guarding the
entrance of the infernal regions, cf. Garni.
Ceres : Rom. Myth. Daughter of Saturn and Cybele, the
Latin goddess of agriculture. She was later identified
with the Greek Demeter. Vide Corn Spirit.
Chair : If three chairs be accidentally placed in a row, a death
will occur either in the house or in the family. (Ohio.)
Chakora : A kind of partridge ; a fabulous bird, supposed to
live upon the beams of the moon. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 65.)
cf . Manucodiata.
Chameleon : They are believed to live on air only. (Hazlitt,
p. 101.)
“ Excellent, i’ faith, of the chameleon’s dish : I eat
the air. . . .” Shakespeare: Hamlet, Act III,
Scene 2.
Chamunda : Hindu Myth. An emanation of the goddess
Durga, sent forth from her forehead to encounter the
demons Chanda and Munda. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 65.)
Chanda, Chandi : Hindu Myth. The goddess Durga, especially
in the form she assumed for the destruction of the Asura
called Mahisha. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 66.) Chandi means
“ the fierce.” Vide Devi, Kali, Durga.
Chandra-kanta : “ The moon-stone ” ; a gem or stone, supposed
to be formed from the congelation of the rays of the moon.
It is believed to exercise a cooling influence. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. 68.)
Change of Address : To take a cat with you, when you axe
changing your lodgings is unlucky ; it denotes a death.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49.)
Before changing your address, you should take some
bread, salt and a broom into the new one ; this would
be a safeguard against possible starvation. (Mark—
WUTTKE, p. 176.) .
It is well to let a cat or dog run in before entering a
new house. (Grimm, D.M., pp. 972> I095-)
Changeling : A child, usually stupid and ugly, supposed to
have been left by fairies in exchange for one taken
(Hartland, Science of Fairy Tales ) ; sometimes,, it is
an old fairy. (Kuhn und Schwarz, p. 92 ; Wolf, Beitrage,
Vol. II, p. 304) ; or the bastard children of water-nixies
and human beings whom they have dragged under the
sea. ,
56 A DICTIONARY OF
Chang Sien : Chin. Myth. A divinity worshipped by women
desirous of offspring (Mayer, Chin. Read. Man., p. io.)
Chapel : Sardinian sailors obtained a good breeze by sweeping
a chapel after Mass, and blowing the dust from it after
departing ships. (Bassett, p. 143.)
Charlemagne, Emperor : He is believed to be reposing to this
day within a mountain near Salzburg, in Austria, cf.
Holgar the Dane, Arthur King, Barbarossa.
Charon : Class. Myth. Son of Erebus and Nox, whose duty it
is to ferry the souls of the dead over the Styx (q.v.).
Charontas : Another form of Charos.
Charos : In Modern Greek superstition it is the name of
Charon. He is represented as a demon of supernatural
size and power, is enveloped in a black mantle and is
equipped with a golden sword and a quiver full of arrows.
He is the personification of death. (Goethes Werke,
Bibl. Inst., Leipzig, p. 293 ; Lawson, p. 98.)
Chastity : St. Susan protects chastfty. Vide Bees, Salt Cellar,
Canace’s Mirror, Drinking Horn, Florimel’s Girdle, Mantle,
Sophia’s Picture, Boar’s Head, Water of Jealousy, Light
Dying, Candle Glowing, Grotto of Ephesus, Alasnam’s
Mirror, Amethyst.
Che : A plant of supernatural growth and auspicious omen.
(Mayer, Chin. Read. Man., p. 20.) cf. Assides, Chikuli,
Tulsi.
Chederles : Muham. Myth. A Moslem hero who, like St.
George, saved a virgin exposed to the tender mercies of
a huge dragon. He also drank of the Water of Immortality
and is still living to render aid in war to any who invoke
him.
Chemise : If a man dries himself on a chemise which has
already been worn, he is sure to propose marriage to the
owner of the article. (For a possible explanation vide
Perspiration.)
Cherry Tree : To dream of the branch of a cherry tree is
unlucky. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 72 ; U.S.A., Knortz,
P- 43-)
Cherub : (pi. Cherubim). Muham. Myth. They are angels who
are absorbed in the holiness of Allah ; their function is
to repeat the tasbih (Glory to God!) night and day.
They inhabit a secluded part of the sky, removed from
the attacks of the devil, Iblis (q.v.).
Chestnut : Chestnuts kept in one’s pocket are a good preven-
tative against backaches. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 85.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
57:
Chichi Vache : “Sorry cow/* a monster that fed on good
women only. It was all skin and bone, because its food was
so extremely rare. (Brewer, R.H.) of. Unicorn.
Chikuli : It is a kind of cactus which grows in Mexico, and
./ is superstitiously believed by the American Indians, to
bring luck to anyone who carries it in his belt/ The
wearer is not only protected from the attacks of bears,
but deer and • other ’ game allow themselves to be killed
'by him. (Prager Tagblatt , 21st April, 1925.) , cf. Assides,
fulsi , Che . v .y • ; , * *
Child : St. Germayne Is the patron saint for children, but
unless the mothers bring a white loaf and a pot of good
ale, he will not look, at them.
A dying child may be released from death’? grasp, if
nominally sold by the parents to some friend for a shekel ;
a change of name may also serve the same end. ( Jews —
Jew. Enc.f Vol. IV, p. 486,)
Children cannot be born till the tide comes in. Vide
Stepping over a child , First-born Children .
Childbed Women in childbed must not spin, lest they spin
a halter for the child. (Franken — Wuttke, p. , 196.)
(For various superstitions see Plgss, Das Weib , Vol. II,
* PP-354 etseq.)
Chimera : Gr. Myth. A monster, represented as vomiting
flames and having the head of a lion, the body of a goat
and the tail of a dragon. He was killed by Bellerophon.
Chimney : They are the favourite entrances and exits of
witches and all evil spirits, (cf. Wuttke, p. 171.)
Chimney Sweep : It is lucky to meet a chimney sweep the
first thing in the morning. ( Great Britain, France,
Germany, Bohemia).
Chinta-mani : “ The wish-gem.” A jewel which is supposed
to have the power of granting all desires. It is said to
have belonged to Brahma, who himself is called by this
name. It is also named “ Divya-ratna.” (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. 72.) ci. .Aladin’s Wonderful Lamp.
Chira-jivan : “ Ever-lived.” Gods or deified mortals who
live for long periods.
Chiron : Gr. Myth. A Centaur, tutor of Achilles and other
heroes.
Chitra-lekha : Hindu Myth. “ A picture.” A nymph who was
skilled in painting and in the magic arts.
Chlvnik : A Russian household spirit who lives in the cattle-
shed. . . , ,
A DICTIONARY OF
58
Choking : Vide Hiccough.
Cholera : In cases of epidemics of this disease, Obla Bibi is
invoked by the Hindus.
Cholera can be detected by throwing up in the air a
piece of raw meat, which will immediately turn black.
{Great Britain .)
To cure cholera, people sleep in churchyards. [Australia.)
Chomoriri : A lake in Tibet. According to a story, it derived
its name from a woman (Chomo), who was carried into
it by the yak she was riding, and cried out in terror :
ri-ri !
Choorail : The Moslems of India designate the ghost of a
pregnant woman by this name.
Chopstick : To break the chopsticks while eating is an extremely
bad omen ; if children strike anything with their chop-
sticks while at meal, they are believed to be struck dumb.
[Japan. — Griffis, M.E., p. 470.)
Christmas : Lights are kept burning all night on this day,
in order that the spirits of the dead returning to the
world, may warm themselves. [East Prussia. — W uttke,
p. 216.) Vide Xmas.
Christopher, St. : Vide Bad Dreams, Earthquake, Flood, Fire,
Night Alarms.
Chronos : Class. Myth. The name of the oldest god.
Chrysaor : Gr. Myth. Son of Poseidon and Medusa, husband
of Callirhoe, by whom he was the father of Geryon and
Echidna.
Chunsu : Egypt. Myth. A moon-god and god of healing.
The chief seat of his worship was Thebes where he formed
one of the Triad, the other two being Mut (q.v.) and
Amon-Ra (q.v.). He was son of Amon-Ra.
Church : To dream of a church and the altar and priests in
white denotes a speedy marriage.
Church bell : When church bells are ringing for a funeral
service, nothing must be eaten, lest the teeth become
hollow. [Mark, Hessen. — Wuttke, p. 214.)
Churchyard : All churchyards are haunted, (cf. Hazlitt,
p. 129.)
Churel : In the Deccan, it is the spirit of a pregnant woman,
one dying on the day of childbirth or within the puerperal
pollution. The Churel is particularly malignant to her
own family and appears in various forms, but she in-
variably has her heels in front and toes behind. (Crooke,
P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 270.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
59
Cinder : A cinder bounding from a fire is either a purse or
a coffin ; those which rattle, when held to the ear, are
tokens of wealth ; those which are mute and solid, indicate
sickness or death.
Cigar : If you step on a cigar end, you will marry the first
man you meet. (Salem, Mass. — -Bergen, C.S., p. 65.)
Cigarette : If you light three cigarettes with the same match,
one of the persons smoking will die before the year is
out (Europe).
Circasea Lutetiana : It is considered in Silesia, Hessen and
Hunsbruck, to have great magical properties and is a
safeguard against witchcraft. (Wuttke, p. go.)
Circe : Gr. Myth. A famous enchantress who transformed
Ulysses’ (q.v.) companions into pigs.
Circle : A circle drawn round a person keeps ghosts and evil
spirits away, hence it has always borne an important
share in occult purposes, (cf. Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 154; Yol. II, p. 17; Goethe: Faust ; Dalyell,
Dark. Sup., p. 120.)
Cirein Croin : The sea-serpent of Celtic superstition was the
largest animal in the world. (Campbell : Sup. of Scot.
Highl., p. 220.)
“ Seven herrings are a salmon’s fill.
Seven salmons are a seal’s fill,
Seven seals are a whale’s fill,
Seven whales are the fill of a Cirein Crdin
And seven Cirein Croin are the fill of the big devil
himself.” — Caithness Rhyme.
City of Giants : The Arabs call Jericho, in Palestine, by this
name. (Jew. Enc., Vol. V, p. 659.)
Claire, St. : She cures bad eyes.
Claw : Tigers’ claws are worn by the Chinese to ensure good
fortune or to ward off sickness, fire or fright. (Williams,
Mid. King., Vol. II, p. 256.)
Cleverness : Extremely clever children will be short-lived.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 35.) Vide Angel.
Climbing : If you dream you are climbing and reach the top,
you will have success in love.
Clinking : The clinking of spoons on All Hallows’ Eve indicates
that the spirits of dead relatives are hungry. (Tyrol. —
Wuttke, p. 216.) - ' ;
6o
A DICTIONARY OF
Clock : Clocks stop the moment the owner dies. (Lean,
Vol. II, p. 590.)
Clio : Gr. Myth. The Muse of history. She is represented
either as sitting down or as standing, and either with
a roll of papers in her hand or with a case of books Reside
her. . y
Clootie : The Scotch name of the Devil. »
Clootie’s Croft : In Scotland' a piece of village land, left
untilled and uncropped by the inhabitants of most
villages. It is traditional that such pieces were set apart
as propitiatory gifts to the Devil. (Webster.)
Clothes : To put on clothes -inside out by accident, is sure to
bring goqd luck, if not changed (Great Britain , Chambers,
Book of Days, Vol . II, p. 321 ; Macedonia, Abbott, p. 144) ;
or it indicates that you will be lucky in love (Bohemia).
To stitch clothes on your person means a foe for every
stitch you make (Great Britain, U.S.A.— Knortz, p. 99),
* or that you will die (Great Britain). Vide Coffin.
Clotho : Gr. Myth. The goddess who spins the thread of life.
Vide Fates.
Cloud : If clouds assume the. form of droves of sheep or lambs
at the time a baby is born, it prognosticates good luck
for the newly-born. (Swabia.— W uttke, p. 30.)
If you dream of clouds, and they are white, you will
have joy and prosperity ; but if they are black, trouble.
Cloven Hoof : In the superstitions of various nations, the
cloven hoof is supposed to be a constant attribute of the
devil and his followers.
Clover : Vide Four-leaved Clover.
Clover Mannikin : It was a Teutonic field-spirit who lived in
the clover fields.
Cluricaune : Irish Lore. A fairy being having the appearance
of a tiny old man, supposed to have a knowledge of
buried treasures, and to haunt wine-cellars (Croker.)
Clymene : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Oceanus, mother of Atlas
and Prometheus.
Clytemnestra : Gr. Myth. Half-sister of Helen and wife of
Agamemnon. Owing to her infidelity during Agamemnon’s
absence she was slain by Orestes.
Clytie : Class. Myth. An ocean nymph, who pined away for
love of Apollo and was changed into a heliotrope.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
61
Coach : In Kilcurry, Ireland, a dead coach is a spectral
coach drawn by four headless horses and driven by a
headless driver. This coach goes about noiselessly, and
gives warning of death, but not necessarily of the person
seeing it. (Jones and Yeats, Folklore, X, pp. 199, 122 ;
Crofton Croker, Fairy Legends, p. 250.)
In Cornwall, the appearance of this coach foretells the
death of the person seeing it. It is driven by two headless
horses, and its rumbling noise may be heard at midnight.
(Miss Courtney, Cornish Folklore, “ Folklore Journal,”
Vol. V, p. 109.)
Coal : A piece of coal kept in one’s pocket brings luck.
(1 Great Britain.)
It is unlucky to give a neighbour a live coal to kindle
a fire with on Christmas morning. (Ragner.)
If you dream of burning coal, you will have shame and
reproach, but if of dead coal, expedition in business.
Coblyn : A Welsh modification of Goblin ; it is used to denote
spirits that are thought to haunt the mines.
Cobra : According to the Hindus, the hood of a cobra bears
the imprint of the foot of Krishna. Vide Kdliyd.
Cobweb : If a girl finds a cobweb on the door, it is a sign that
her beau calls elsewhere. {North Ohio. — Bergen, C.S.,
p. 62.)
A cobweb in the kitchen is a sign that there is no courting
there. {Boston. Ib.)
Cock : A black cock brings luck {Silesia. — Wuttke, p. 176.)
The crowing of a cock before midnight is a sign of
death ; if heard however, on the way to business, it
denotes good luck. {Great Britain.)
The Persians are superstitious respecting the crowing
of a cock (Monier, First Journey through Persia, 1810,
p. 62).
The favourable hours for the crowing of a cock are at
nine, both in the morning and in the evening, at noon,
and at midnight.
If a cock crows in the afternoon, it is either a sign of
great joy or of great sorrow (le Braz, Vol. I, p. 6) ; if it
crows three times at night, it is a sign of death (Deeney,
Peasant Lore from Gaelic Ireland, pp. 55, 60, 78 ; N.E.
Scotland — Folklore Journal, Vol. VIII, p. 43 ; Wales —
Owen, p. 297.).
The crowing of a cock before midnight is held in
Macedonia to be a sign of death (Abbott, p. 107 ; Thomas
62
A DICTIONARY OF
Hardy, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Ch. XXXIII) ; in
Scotland, it is regarded as an indication of coming news.
(Campbell, Sup. Scot. Highl., p. 257) ; amongst various
African tribes such cocks are held as prognosticating
some dire misfortune, and are accordingly killed. (Ellis,
Ewe-speaking Peoples, p. 96 ; Tremearne, Hausa Super-
stitions and Customs, p. 141.)
Vide Alectryon, Basilisk, Bazalicek, Dragon, Lion, Fire.
Cockatrice : Another name for a Basilisk (Shakespeare,
Rape of Lucrece, 78.)
Cockchafer : If the first cockchafer seen be stitched in a piece
of cloth and worn as an amulet, it will be a safeguard
against attacks of fever. ( Koten , Silesia. — W uttke,
P- 95-)
Coeyte : Gr. Myth. A river in Hades.
Cceus : Gr. Myth. A Titan.
Coffee : Coffee drunk cold promotes beauty.
Coffin : To lie inside a coffin, though in fun, is to invite
certain death.
If the clothes of a living person be enclosed in a coffin,
their rightful owner will die as the clothes gradually rot
away. It is for this reason, that people are afraid of giving
away discarded clothes to the poor. ( Holstein , Saxony,
Silesia, Hessen, Mecklenburg. — W uttke, pp. 83, 211.)
The noise of a coffin being deposited at the door is an
omen of death. (Gregor, p. 203.)
Coin : In Tyrol, coins found during a storm of rain are
considered to have been dropped from heaven, and are
used as amulets for luck. (Wuttke, p. 96.)
To find a coin with a hole in it, is extremely lucky ;
such coins should never be given away. [Great Britain. —
Lean, Vol. II, p. 34 ; India.)
Colic : St. Erasmus relieves colic.
To cure colic stand on your head for a quarter of an
hour (Hunt), or carry a hare’s foot on your person
(Pepys’ Diary, 31, XII, 1664).
Comb : If a comb which has been used for a dead person,
be used again, the person who combs his hair with it
will shortly die. ( East Prussia. — Wuttke, p. 214.)
If you comb a child before it has teethed, its teeth will
be separated from each other like those of the comb.
(Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 44.)
Constipation : This may be cured by means of stolen bacon
(ffiv.) ,v V ...
63
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Consumption : It may be cured by sleeping over a cow-house
or by sucking the blood of a person in health (Lean,
Vol. II, p. 489).
Comet : The Samoan Islanders hold that the appearance of
a comet always indicates the death of a chief. (Prichard,
Phys. Hist, of Mankind, II, p. 154.)
The appearance of a comet prognosticates war, pesti-
lence, famine, destruction of the world or some other
grievous calamity. (Wuttke, p. 30 ; Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 23 ; Lehmann, Aberglaube und Zauberei. — ■
Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Nether-
lands, etc.)
Conch-shell : The conch-shell is sacred to Vishnu. It is the
bone of the demon Panchajana, who, according to the
Vishnu Parana (v. 21), "lived in the form of a conch-
shell under the: ocean. Krishna plunged into the water,
killed him, took the shell which constituted his bones, and
afterwards used it for a horn. When sounded, it fills
the demon hosts with dismay, animates the gods, and
annihilates unrighteousness.”
Consus : Rom. Relig. An early Italian god of the earth and
its harvests.
Coral : Coral is a talisman against enchantments, witchcraft,
thunder and other perils and all maladies ; hence the use
of a coral necklace. It was consecrated to Jupiter and
Phoebus.
Red coral worn about a person is a certain cure for
indigestion.
A coral ring is used to keep off the influences of the sun.
(Campbell, Notes on the Spirit Basis of Beliefs and
Customs, Bomb., 1885, p. 69.)
Com : To cure corns take a pearl button and steep it in the
juice of a lemon in which it will become dissolved ; place
a piece of lemon soaked in this on the com, and repeat
it daily, or oftener if required, and it will extract the
corn. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 491, quoting N. IV.)
Cornelius, St. : Vide Epilepsy, Palsy.
Com Spirit : Any of the various personifications, interpreted
by folklorists, as representing the vegetative energy of
growing grain, with which it flourishes and dies, also the
type to which these personifications conform. Many
harvest customs are traced to the ancient prevalence of
this belief, while such deities as Ceres, Demeter and
Persephone are believed to have been the result of this
form of superstition. (Webster.)'
64 A DICTIONARY OF
Cornucopia : The horn of plenty. It was a goat’s horn filled
to overflowing with flowers, fruits and corn, etc., and was
the symbol of plenty and peace.
Corpse : If a corpse becomes stiff too quickly after death, call
him thrice by his Christian name ; the corpse will become
pliable again. (Silesia,. — W uttke, p. 210.)
Do not look at a corpse after it has been thrown over-
board ; if you do so, you will soon follow the same path.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 46.)
Sailors do not like to have corpses on board the ship
they are sailing in ( Great Britain).
“ In a secret murther, if the dead carkasse be at any
time thereafter handled by the murtherer, it will gush
out of blood, as if the blood were crying to heaven for
revenge of the murtherer.” (King James, Dcemonology,
p. 136.) cf. Mummy ; Dead Body.
Corpse Candles : A lambent flame seen in a churchyard or
over a grave, and superstitiously believed to appear as
an omen of death in Celtic countries, or to indicate the
route of a coming funeral. (Rhys, C.F., p. 275 ; Hazlixt,
p. 88.)
“ These fiery apparitions (Corpse candles) which do,
as it were, mark out the way for corpses to their
KoifirjTTjpiov and sometimes before the parties them-
selves fall sick.” — Aubrey: Miscellanies (1696).
The ignis fatuus, called by the Welsh canwyll cyrph,
prognosticates death. If small and of a pale blue colour,
it denotes the death of an infant ; if large and yellow,
the death of a grown-up person.
In Wales the corpse candle appears to warn a family
of an impending death. (Owen, pp. 298-301.)
In Carmarthen scarcely any person dies but someone
sees his light or candle.
Captain Leather, Chief Magistrate of Belfast, in 1690,
being shipwrecked off the Isle of Man, was told that
thirteen of his crew were lost, for thirteen corpse
candles had been seen moving towards the church-
yard ; it is really a fact that thirteen of the men were
drowned in this wreck, (cf. Bassett, p. 3x7.)
Cosmos, St. : This saint cures blains.
Cotton : A piece of cotton sticking on a dress, denotes a letter ;
the initial of the name of the person from whom the
letter is to come may be seen from the form of the cotton.
Cough : In India children affected with a cough are fanned
with a broom. -(Jackson, F.L.N., Yol. I, p. 149.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
65
Coupe enchantee : Vide Drinking Horn.
Courage : A man who is of a. nervous temperament, can
become courageous by carrying the tongue of a fox with
him (. Bohemia — Grohmann, p. 54), or by eating a piece
of a lion’s heart (Arabia — Frazer, G.B., Vol. IT, p. 355.)
Vide Pillow.
Cow : The cow is a sacred animal in India.
“ Curst cows have curt horns.” (“ Curst ” means
“ Angry, fierce.”) Vide Death Omens.
Crab : In Siamese belief there are giant crabs and great
scorpions in the sea who drag ships down. (Bassett,
p. 218.)
Cracking : Cracking of the finger joints when pulled, denotes
that the owner is loved by someone. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 91.)
Cradle : The child which sleeps in a cradle procured before
its birth, will be short lived. ((Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 44)-
To rock an empty cradle brings evil or calamity to the
child which sleeps therein later on. (Great Britain.)
“ Rock a cradle empty,
Babies will be plenty.”
Peabody, Mass. (Bergen, C.S., p. 24).
To dream of a cradle Is a certain sign of marriage.
Cramp : Tying the garter round the left leg below the knee
cures cramp.
Cramp may be avoided by using mole’s paws, or hare’s
ankle-bone. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 492.)
Vide Shibbeta, Eel, Slipper, Sheep.
Cream : To dream of cream being spilt on you denotes the
infusion of some grace from above.
Cremation Grounds : In Hindu superstition these are said to
be the favourite haunts of demons and witches. Tawney,
Kdtha — sarit — sdgara, Vol. I, p. 159.)
Creon : Gr. Myth. Brother-in-law of (Edipus, who espoused
the cause of Etiocles against Polynices. He condemned
Antigone to be buried alive for having performed funeral
rites over Polynices.
Cricket : Crickets in a house presage good fortune. (England,
cf. Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 112), but if they suddenly
forsake the house, it is a sign of an approaching death
or disaster. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 19, quoting Sir W. Jardine).
To kill a cricket is extremely unlucky.
66 ; A DICTIONARY OF
Criminal : The spirits of executed criminals are said to become
vampires, Brahmadaitvas and other kinds of malevolent
ghosts.
Crocodile : Crocodiles are said to be reincarnations of murdered
Brahmans, and are therefore duly respected (cf. Ellis,
Ewe-speaking Peoples , p. 71).
Crocodiles are said to weep over a person's head
after they have devoured the body, and then eat the head.
They moan and sigh like a person in distress in order
to allure passers-by, and then make them their prey.
Humming birds and lapwings will fearlessly enter the
crocodiles' mouth, and the creatures will never injure
them, because they pick their teeth.
Cronus : Gr. Myth. A Titan who dethroned his father and
was in turn dethroned by his son Zeus. He was a god of
harvest and was identified by the Romans with Saturn.
Crop : Vide Moon , Spindle.
Cross-eye : To meet a cross-eyed person of the opposite sex
is lucky.
Cross Roads : Cross roads are the favourite meeting places
of witches from all parts of the world.
In Cornwall cross roads are avoided after nightfall.
(. Folklore Journal , v, 218.)
If you go to a cross road between eleven and twelve
o'clock on Christmas day and listen, you will hear what
most concerns you for the coming year (Ragner).
“ At cross roads, or in the neighbourhood of cemeteries,
an animated corpse often lurks watching for some unwary
traveller whom it may be able to slay and eat." (Ralston,
Folk Tales of the Russians , p. 311.)
Crow : Many crows in the early morning foretell a gale
(Tibet. — -Waddell, p. 135), if they thereby gape at the
sun, the weather will be hot and dry ; but if they stalk
at nightfall into water, rain is at hand.
When crows forsake a wood in a flock, it is a sign of
a famine.
A crow appearing to one on the left hand side is a good
omen (Hazlitt, p. 51), or it indicates some impending
evil to the person ; flying over a house and croaking
thrice, it foretells evil at hand to someone of the inmates.
If a crow flutters about the window and caws or sits
down (Bohemia), it forebodes a death.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 67
The croaking of a crow indicates rain (Hazlitt, p. 51.).
“ One crow— sorrow,
Two crows — mirth,
Three crows — wedding,
Four crows — birth.”
— Maryland (Knortz, p. 134).
A crow cawing on the chimney gives warning of a death
in the family. (Macedonia. — Abbott, p. 108.)
Several crows fluttered about the head of Cicero
on the day he was murdered by Popilius Laenas ; one
of them even made its way into his chamber, and
pulled away the bedclothes.— Macaulay : History of
St. Hilda, p. 176.
cf. Blackbird, Raven.
Crucifix : Evil spirits are afraid of the crucifix ; it is there-
fore a powerful charm against them. ( Christian Countries.)
In Serbia if a pregnant woman kisses the crucifix
her child will be epileptic. (Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 6x7.)
cf. Rosary, Beads, Qor'an, Prayer Book.
Cruelty : The spirits of those who have been cruel during
their lifetime, can find no peace in death, but must return
to earth as ghosts
Crumb : The crumbs saved up on three Christmas Eves are
good to give as a physic to one who is disappointed
(Ragner).
Crust : The first crust from a loaf of bread must not be given
away, but should be eaten at home ; if this is not done,
you will be in need (Bohemia).
Crying : If a sick person cries, it is a sign that he will
recover from his illness. (Wuttke, p. 43 ; Wolf, Beitrdge,
Yol. II, p. 368.)
One must not cry before at least three hours have
passed since the death of a person, otherwise the hell-
hounds may be attracted by the noise and devour the
soul before it has had time to reach the throne of God.
(Lady Wilde, pp. 118, 214.)
Crystal : Crystal induces visions, promotes sleep and ensures
pleasant dreams. It is dedicated to the moon ; in metal-
lurgy it stands for silver.
Cuckold : Vide Mantle, Boar’s Head, Drinking Horn.
Cuckoo : The same superstition as with the swallow (q.v.)
is prevalent in Silesia, Bavaria, Mark and Swabia.
If you hear the first cuckoo in spring, you will have
luck all the year round ( Great Britain, Bohemia).
68
A DICTIONARY OF
In Celtic superstition the cuckoo is said to have its
winter dwelling underground. (Campbell, Sup. of Scot.
Highl., p. 5.)
Cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. [Alsace. —
Lambs, p. 31'.)
If you hear a cuckoo in your dream, your sweetheart
will prove to be a coquette.
A cuckoo calling on the top of a house or on the chimney
presages death. (Lady Wilde, p. 318 ; Campbell,
op. cit., p. 35.)
Cuichi supai : The Indians of Ecuador call the rainbow (q.v.)
by this name. It is said to be a demon that makes women
pregnant. (Karsten, Ind. Trib. Ecuad., p. 70.).
cf. Incubus, Succubus, Jhoting, Tululu Supai.
Cup : Vide Accidental upsetting of a cup.
Cupid : Rom. Myth. The god of love. He is represented as
a little naked boy with bow and arrows. He shoots people
with his darts and they immediately fall love-sick.
If you dream of Cupid breaking his dart, your love
will change ; but if he breaks his bow, you will remain
a spinster all your life. cf. Kama, Venus.
Curetes : Gr. Myth. Earth-born demons, attendants upon
Rhea, who, when she gave the infant Zeus into their
charge, executed a wild dance and thus concealed the
child’s presence from Cronus (q.v.).
Curing diseases by transferring them to other things : See
E. B. Tylor, Primitive Culture, Vol. II, pp. 136 etc. ;
Dalyell, Dark. Sup., pp. 105-m ; Frazer, G.B.,
Vol. Ill, pp. 13 sqq., 26 sqq. ; Black, Folk Medicine, pp.
34-48-
Curse : The curse of a dying man, of a Brahmin {Hindus), or
that of a beggar {Jews of Byelostock and Kiev) is effective.
Cuttlefish : Cuttlefish with their many legs, swimming on the
top of the water and striving to be above the waves
presage a storm. (Brand, Observations, Vol. Ill, p. 291.)
Cwn y Wybr : The Welsh name for “ dogs that haunt the
air.”
Cybele : The great nature goddess of the ancient people of
Anatolia. She was the deification of the earth as sustaining
and reproducing the wild life of nature. She was thought
to haunt mountains and forest fastnesses, accompanied
by trains of wild attendants bearing torches and dancing
to music.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
69
Cyclops : Class. Myth. One of a race of giants having but
one eye in the middle of the forehead, fabled to inhabit
Sicily, and in later traditions supposed to assist in the
workshops of Hephaestus (Vulcan) under Mt. Etna.
According to Homer, they were shepherds.
Cycnus : Gr. Myth. Son of Stenelus, king of Liguria, and
friend of Phaeton. He was changed into a swan and
placed among the stars.
Cyhiraeth : In Wales it is a kind of dreadful and doleful
moan in the night proceeding from an invisible source.
It is a “ spectral female used to be oftener heard than
seen ; but her blood-freezing shriek was as a rule to be
heard when she came to a cross road or to water, in which
she splashed with her hands. . . . These cries meant the
approaching death of the hearer’s husband, wife, or child
as the case might be ; but if the scream was inarticulate
it was reckoned probable that the hearer himself was the
person foremourned.” (Rhys, C.F., p. 453 ; Bassett,
p. 317.) cf. Death Warnings, Death Omens.
D
Daedalus : Class. Myth. An Athenian architect, who built
the Labyrinth of Crete. He was cast into the Labyrinth,
but escaped with his son Icarus, by flying through the
air with artificial wings, of which he was the inventor.
Daedalus reached Sicily in safety, but his son Icarus
flew too near the sun ; the wax on the wings melted, he
fell and was drowned in the sea.
Dagan : Bahyl. Myth. God of the earth. He was identified
with Bel (q.v.) and was worshipped as early as the ninth
century b.c.
Dagda : Celtic Myth. A Gaelic god, perhaps of earth, famous
as a warrior, harpist and eater of porridge. He was king
of the Tuatha de Danann (q.v.) after their defeat by the
Milesians.
Dagger : To dream of daggers denotes hot contest with
others.
Daikoku : Jap. Myth. A god of luck (q.v.), who stands on a
bale of rice and is accompanied by a rat.
Daini : In Bengal this word signifies a witch. The line of
demarcation between a Daini and a Dakini is extremely
fine (see Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 95).
A DICTIONARY OF
70
Daitya : Hindu Myth. Titans, descendants of Diti by Kasyapa.
A race of demons and giants who warred against the
gods and interfered with sacrifices. They were in turn
victorious and vanquished. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 76.)
In later Indian mythology, they were evil beings and
deadly foes of the gods.
Dakini : In Indian superstition it is a female spirit of a
malicious nature.
Dakinis are of two kinds : human and ghostly. Girls
born on the second, seventh and twelfth day of a month
are human dakinis. They cause the death of their husbands,
and their evil eye injures all things and individuals that
come under its Influence. Women who die in childbirth
become dakinis. A ghostly dakini dresses in fine clothes,
and decks her person with ornaments ; but she does not
cover her back, which is horrible. It is so frightful that
anyone happening to see it dies of horror. They trouble
only women. They are said to live with men who gradually
become emaciated, and ultimately die within about six
months. They cause cattle to yield blood instead of milk.
They live upon the flesh of corpses, can assume any
form, or swell or shrink their body at will ; their feet are
reversed. They haunt trees, cemeteries, deserted tanks,
cross roads, mines and other desolate places. (Jackson,
F.L.N., VoL I, p. 152 ] Ethnologie du Bengale , p. 95).
Damkina : Assyro-Babyl. Myth. Consort of Ea.
Danae ; Gr. Myth. Daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos, and
mother of Perseus by Zeus.
Danaides : Gr. Myth. They were the fifty daughters of
Danaiis. All of them except one killed their husbands
on the night of their marriage. As a punishment they
were condemned to fill a barrel without bottom with
water.
Danaiis : Gr. Myth. A mythological personage, king of Egypt
and later, of Argos ; father of the Danaides.
Danava : Indian Myth. An ancient name for demons.
Dancing : Witches are very fond of this sport ; they try to
find many other votaries. Goblins and Elves are also
addicted to it. (Strackerjan, VoL I, pp. 312, 316, 398.)
To dream of dancing denotes poverty, grief and despair
after great enjoyment.
Dando : In Cornwall it is a ghost who rides about accompanied
by his hounds. (Hunt, Pop. Rom p. 223.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
7 1
Dano : A kind of Indian demon who is nowadays hardly to
be distinguished from the Bir. (Crooice, PJ?./., Vol. I,
P- 254-)
Danu : Celt. Myth. The Gaelic mother of the gods, cognate
with the Cymric goddess Don. She is represented as the
ancestress of the forces of knowledge and light, the Tnatha
De Danann, who overcame the powers of darkness, the
Fomors.
Darbas : “ Tearers ” ; Rakshasas and other destructive
demons.
Darkness : Spirits can only appear in the dark.
If you dream of losing your way in the dark, you will
be blinded by some passion and have much trouble.
Dasim : Muham. Myth. A son of Iblis, a jinn, who causes
hatred between husband and wife. (Jew. Enc Vol. IV,
?. 521.)
Davy Jones : In sailors’ superstition, it is a malignant spirit
having power over the sea ; hence the sea itself is called
Davy Jones’s Locker.
Dead Body : It is unlucky to pass a dead body lying on the
ground, [Tibet. — Waddell, p. 135.) Vide Corpse.
Death : Death is caused by the soul leaving the material body
which served as a resting place for the soul ; it is merely
a transitory stage from one form to another.
Immediately after the death of someone in the house,
all those who are sleeping must be awakened, otherwise
it would be their sleep of death. (East Prussia, Silesia.—
WuTTKE, p. 209.)
To dream of death denotes happiness and long life.
Vide Pigeon, Tide, Lock.
Death Omens : Death is foretold by the ringing of a bell
that cannot otherwise be accounted for. (Southern Ohio.)
A cow lowing after midnight foretells a death.
_ If a doctor is called on a Friday, the patient will surely
die. (Cambridge, Mass.)
If you meet a funeral train, it is a sign of death. (Prince
Edward Islands.)
Lie down on the table and you will die within a year.
(Mattawamkeag, Me.)
Ringing in the ears is a sign of death. (U.S.A.)
Three chairs placed accidentally in a row means death.
(Ohio.)
If sparks are accidentally kept overnight, it is a sign
of death. (Cumberland, Me.)
72
A DICTIONARY OF
To hold a lamp over a sleeping person causes death
(. Massachusetts .)
To knock on the door and receive no answer is a sign
of death. ( Virginia and Englewood, IU.)
A film of tallow shot from the top of a lighted candle
gives warning to the house of an approaching death.
{Great Britain .)
To imagine that you hear someone calling you by your
name soon after dusk, is an omen of death. [India.)
The dismal moaning of a dog prognosticates a death
in the near future.
Dogs give warning of death by scratching on the floor
of the house. {Great Britain .)
Pictures falling off the wall without anyone touching
them is a sign of death {Great Britain.)
(For other forms of Death Omens see Lean’s Collectanea ,
Vol. II, pp. 548-580 ; Bergen, Current Superstitions ,
pp. 125-130.)
Vide Coffin , Cock, Change of Address , Hoop , Salt ,
Comet, Bittern , Broom , Dog , Picture, Rat , Raven , Pleiades ,
Fir tree, Lamb , Cinder, Candle, Cricket, Lo%tse, Star,
Winding Sheet , Yellow Light, Bedclothes, Clothes, Bat,
Bay tree, Bedstead, Bee, Building, Crow, Eye, Egg, God-
mother, Hand , Knock, Match, Mayflower, Meteor, Mirror,
Mouse, Nail, Needle, Owl, Pigeon , Salt, Shoe, Smell ,
Smile, Sweeping, Will, Turpentine , Umbrella, Wedding
ring, Whistle, Worm, Menstruation, Portrait, Panel , Bird,
Cuckoo, Goose, Breeze, Knocking, Water, Blood, Reed,
Butterfly.
Death Warnings : In Great Britain : Vide Banshee, Corpse-
Candles, Bodachun Dun, Edgewell Oak, Aderyn y Corph,
Doubles, Gwrachy Rhibyn , St. John's Eve, W ag-at~the-W a ,
Cyhiraeth.
In France : Vide Melusine , ■
In Germany : Several princes of Germany have their
special warning-givers of death. In some it is the roaring
of a lion, in others it is the howling of a dog ; in some
it is the tolling of a bell, or the striking of a clock at an
unusual time, in others it is a bustling noise about the
castle.
Vide White Lady, Habergeis , Ahnfrau .
Among the Wends : Vide Bozaloshtsh.
In Austria : Vide Habsburg.
In Bohemia : Vide Smrtnice .
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
73
“ Spectrum foemineum vestitu lugubri apparere solet
in arce quandam illustris families, antequam una ex
conjugibus dominorum illorum e vita decedat.”
— Delrio : Disquisitiones Magicce , p. 592
In Beyrout : Vide Weeping Chamber.
(Other forms of death warnings are given under separate
headings.)
Death Rattle : A particular kind of noise made in respiring by
a person in the extremity of sickness ; it is considered
an omen of death. (Hazlitt, p. 171.)
Death-watch : The tapping made by a small beetle, called
a death-watch, is said to be a warning of death to someone
in the house. (Owen, p. 325 ; Brand, Observations ,
Vol. Ill, p. 225.)
December : “ December’s frost and January’s flood
Never boded the husbandman’s good.”
(Lean, Vol. I, p. 367, quoting Times , Jan. 1, 1884.)
Vide Turquoise , Ruby .
Decuma : Rom. Myth. One of the three goddesses of Fate ;
she is identical with Lachesis.
Deer : Cherokee hunters ask pardon of the deer they kill.
If they failed to do so, the chief of the deer tribe would
track the hunter and put the spirit of rheumatism into
him. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. II, p. 406.)
Defilement : St. Susan preserves from defilement.
Deformity : In Japan the birth of a deformed child is attri-
buted to some great sin of the parents (Griffis, M.E.,
p. 472) ; or in India to the non-fulfilment of the mothers’
wishes (Jolly, Medicin , Grundr . d. Indo-Arisch. Phil.,
p. 52, quoted in Ethnologic du Bengale, p. 81, n. 1 ;
cf. Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 3).
Deianira : Gr. Myth. Wife of Hercules, whose death she
unwittingly caused. Vide Nessus.
Deino ; Gr, Myth. One of the Greece.
Delhan : Muham, Myth. A demoniacal being of Arab super-
stition, who inhabits the islands of the seas ; it has the
form of a man and rides an ostrich. It eats the flesh of
men, whom the sea casts on the shore from wrecks.
(Lane, AS.MJL, p. 44.)
Delphian Oracle : Gr. Relig. The most famous oracle in the
world. The oracles were given forth by a priestess, the
Pythia, who seated herself upon a golden tripod above
a chasm, whence issued mephitic vapours.
A DICTIONARY OF
74
Demeter : Gr. Myth. She is identified with Ceres of the
Romans.
Demi-Gods : The heroes of ancient mythology, sons of mortals
and gods or goddesses, who raised themselves to the
standard of gods by their acts of bravery, are usually
designated by this name ; thus Hercules, Achilles, Castor
and Pollux, etc.., are all considered as demi-gods.
Demon : In ancient Greek mythology Safyiwv or demon
was a supernatural being of a nature intermediate between
that of gods and men. In popular superstition it means a
malignant spirit of a superhuman nature.
“The three special characteristics of medieval
demons were horns, hoofs . . . and tails.’’
— -Weight, Hist. Caricat. (1865).
Deo : Hindu Folklore. Originally this term was applied to the
thirty-three great divinities. “Now the term represents
a vague class of the demon-ogre family. The Deo is a
cannibal, and were he not exceedingly stupid could do
much harm.” (Crooke, P.R.I., Yol. I, p. 253.) Tempests
are often caused by him ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. xoi.)
Deodand : “ Given to God.” In Old English law not only
every animal which killed a man, but every instrument or
tree or cart-wheel, etc. which caused the death of a man
was deodand. (cf. R. Douglas, China, 4th ed., p. 83).
“ Omnia que movent ad mortem sunt Deodanda.”
— Bracton.
-Desert: All deserts are a resort of Bhfit. (Crooke, P.R.I.,
Vol. I, p. 278, quoting Henderson, Folklore of Northern
Countries, p. 278 etc. )
Desert Goats : Amongst the Malays of the Lower Siamese
States it is believed that if a desert goat fall over a cliff,
it immediately licks itself whole. Accordingly, the tongue
of a desert goat is carried as an amulet against falling,
and is a sure cure for wounds caused by falling.
Despoina : Gr. Myth. Persephone was often called by this
name.
Deucalion : Gr. Myth. A king of Pythia in Thessaly, son of
Prometheus and Pyrrha. He is the Noah of Greek myth-
ology. During the inundation, Deucalion and Pyrrha
took refuge in a barge which stopped on Mt. Parnasse.
They alone were the sole survivors of the flood. They
repopulated the world by throwing stones behind them ;
each stone thrown by Deucalion became a man and
each thrown by Pyrrha a woman.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
75
Deva : (Nom. Devas — Deus, from the root Div, to shine.)
Hindu Myth. God. The gods are spoken of as thirty-
three in number ; eleven for each of the three worlds.
(Dowson, H.C.D., p. 84 ; Macdonnel, Vedic Mythology.)
Devala : Hindu Myth. Music personified as a female.
Devas : Zoroastrianism. The spirits of evil.
Devata : Hindu Myth. A divine being or god. The name
“ Devata ” includes the gods in general or, as most
frequently used, the whole body of inferior gods. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. 85.)
Devi : Hindu Relig. The consort of Siva and daughter of
Himavat (Himalaya Mountains).. She is the Sakti or
female energy of Siva, and is considered either as a bene-
ficent or as a malignant deity. In the former she is called
Devi “goddess,” Gauri “ the yellow or brilliant,” Uma
“ light,” Parvati “ the mountaineer,” etc., in the latter,
Durga, Kali, Chandi.
Devil : In Jewish and Christian theology it is the popular
appellation of the supreme spirit of evil, the tempter and
spiritual enemy of mankind, the foe of God and holiness.
To dream of the devil denotes trouble ; if he appears in
fire, some immediate misfortune will befall you, if he
vanishes in smoke, expect returning calm.
Dhatri : Hindu Myth. “ Maker, Creator.” A deity of no very
defined powers and functions ; he is described as operating
in the production of life and preservation of health. He
promotes generation, brings about matrimony, presides
over domestic life, cures diseases and heals broken bones.
He is said to have “ formed the sun, moon, sky, earth,
air and heaven.” (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 90.)
Diamond ; The diamond is an emblem of innocence. It is
dedicated to April and the sun. In the Zodiac it stands
for Virgo ; in Christian art, for invulnerable faith. .
Diamond produces somnambulism and promotes spiritual
ecstasy.
Diana : Rom. Myth. An ancient Italian goddess whose wor-
ship was early widespread throughout the Peninsula.
She is represented, like Artemis, as a huntress.
Diancecht : Celt. Myth. A Gaelic god of medicine.
Diarmaid : Celt. Myth. He was noted for his beauty spot
which was always kept covered up with his cap, for if
any woman chanced to see it, she would instantly fall in
love with him.
76 A DICTIONARY OF
Diarmait O’Duibhne : According to a Gaelic legend he is
said to have eloped with Finn’s betrothed.
Dickepoten : In the provinces of Mark and Lower Saxony
the Jack-o’-Lantem (q.v.) is designated by this name.
Dictyna : The Cretan goddess Britomartia, probably a local
counterpart of Artemis.
Digestion : Topaz promotes digestion.
Dimple : Dimples are the impressions of God’s fingers, hence
a dimple on the chin is considered lucky ( Great Britain).
" Dimple in chin
Devil within.”
— Chestertown, Md. (Bergen, C.S., p. 32).
Dindymene : Gr. Myth. The Great Mother (q.v.) was so called
from Mt. Dindimus. Vide Agdistis.
Dionea : Class. Myth. A nymph, daughter of Uranus and the
Earth, or of Oceanus and Tethys. She was loved by Zeus,
and became the mother of Venus.
Dionysos ; Gr. Myth. The god of wine and riotous merriment.
The Romans identified him with Bacchus.
Dioscuri : Class. Myth. The twins Castor and Pollux. They
were typically represented as horsemen and were patrons
of games and equestrian exercise. Castor alone was
mortal. Vide Asvins, Leda , Pollux.
Dirce : Gr. Myth. The second wife of Lycus. Antiope’s sons
tied her to a wild bull which dragged her about until she
died. After her death she was changed into a fountain
by Bacchus, cf. Pirene.
Dirge : A music or song of a mournful character to accompany
funeral or memorial rites.
Dis : Rom. Myth. Pluto was so called by the Romans.
Disappointment : Vide Feast , Foot, Pig , Scissors , Sneeze ,
Song.
Disease ; Diseases are superstitiously believed to be caused
by various demons. (For authorities see under separate
headings.) cf. Jew . Enc., Vol. IV, p. 517 ; Roth, Super-
stition, Magic and Religion in North Queensland ; Ethnolog .
Bulletin , No. 5, Brisbane, 1903, §116; Taplin, The Nar-
rinyeri , pp. 62 seq. ; Howitt, Native Tribes , pp. 356, 358 ;
Ellis, Yoruba-speaking Peoples , pp. 113 seq.)
The Dyaks of Borneo are firm believers in diseases
being caused by spirits. (St. John, Far East , Vol. I,
p. 217 ; Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 134.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 77
Bread consecrated on St. Blaise’s day (3rd February)
cures all cattle’s diseases.
St. Rooke cures diseases, because he had a sore ;
St. Sebastian, because he was martyred with arrows and
St. Blaise cures all children’s diseases. Vide Bear, Blood,
Brushwood, Claw.
Distaff : In Hungaria if a young married woman takes her
distaff and her needle case with her to her husband’s
home, she will give birth to baby girls only. (Ploss,
Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 551, quoting V. Czaplovics Gemalde
von Un-gam.)
Diti : Hindu Myth. A goddess, daughter of Daksha, wife of
Kasyapa and mother of the Daityas. (Dowson, H.C.D.,
P- 93-)
Div : Turkish Folklore. A giant, a demon, a fiend, of a gigantic
size, and ugly. (Redhouse, Turkish-English Lexicon ,
p. 940 ; Kunos, TILT.)
Dive zeny : “ Wild women ” ; female forest-spirits of Bohemian
folklore.
Divining Petrel : A kind of sea-bird, considered by sailors as
extremely unlucky to kill. cf. Albatross, Petrel , Mother
Carey's Chickens .
Divining Rod : A forked hazel rod suspended between the
balls of the thumb was, at one time, supposed to indicate
the presence of water springs and precious metals by
inclining towards the earth., beneath which these are to
be found.
Dobhar-Chu ; (pronounced dooar, dour). The Celtic name for
a Water Dog (q.v.).
Dobrochot : A Russian pet-name for a demon, especially the
domestic spirit.
Doctor : If you call a doctor on a Friday, the patient will
die ( Cambridge , Mass.)
Dog : Dogs are supposed to see spirits, when human beings
cannot ; thus in Old Scandinavia, the dogs could see
Hela, the death goddess, moving about. (Grimm, DM.,
p. 632.)
The Esquimaux lay a dog's head in a child's grave, in
order that the dog may guide the infant to the land of
souls. (Cranz : Groniand .)
When dogs wallow in the dust expect foul weather.
(Brand, Observations , Vol. Ill, p. 189.)
The howling of a dog at night near a house forebodes
the death of an inmate. (Owen, p. 304 ; Lawson, p. 328 ;
78
A DICTIONARY OF
le Braz, VoL I, p. 7 ; Cambry, Voyage dans le Finisiere ,
VoL I, p. 71 ; Dalyell, p. 503 ; Hazlitt, p. 184 ;
F.L.J. , 1883, PP* 217> 355). or the presence of spirits in
the air (St. John, Leg. Chr . East, p. 193.)
Dogs give warning of death by scratching on the floor
of the house. (Great Britain, India,)
If a black and white spotted dog crosses your path
when you are on your way to some business, you are sure
to have success (Great Britain), or you will have a disap-
pointment (India).
A dog running between two friends indicates the end
of the friendship (Alsace, Lambs, p. 29).
A dog coming and staying in your house, is an omen of
wealth (China — Doolittle, Yol. II, p, 328).
Sailors on the sea do not mention dogs by their name.
(Bassett, pp. 125, 279.)
If a dog howls the night before Christmas, it will go mad
within the year. (Ragner.)
Among the Zulus it is a very bad omen for a dog to
climb on the roof of a hut. (Haggard, Nada the Lily,
pp. 36, 38) ; among the Oraons, see Sarat Chandra Roy,
The Oraons of Chota Nagpur, p. 273 ; Frazer, Folklore
in the Old Testament, Vol. Ill, p. 264, quoted in Ethnologic
du Bengale, p. 125.
“ Cane proviso funere disce mori.”
R. Keuchen, Crepundia, 115.
Capitolinus tells us that the death of Maximinus was
presaged by the howling of dogs.
Pausanias says, the dogs broke into a fierce howl
just before the overthrow of the Messenians.
Virgil says the same thing occurred just before the
battle of Pharsalia.
Vide Rat, Owl, Fire, Ulcer, Madness , Fisherman,
Dog’s Blood : The Chinese say that the blood of a dog will
reveal a person who has rendered himself invisible (!)
Dolphin : Dolphins pursuing one another in fair and calm
weather, foreshow wind ; but if they thus play when the
seas are rough and troubled, it is a sign of fair and calm
weather to ensue, (Brand, Observations , Vol. Ill, p. 241 ;
Ethnologic du Bengale, p. 114.)
Dolya : Slav. Myth. A personification of the good or the
evil fortune of an individual ; the Dolya accompanies
the person throughout his life. (Die. Rel. Eth., Vol. IV,
p. 625.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
79
Domovoy : In Slavic folklore it is a domestic spirit. Every
house has its domovoy , who lives with his wife and family*
Generally speaking, he is of a merry disposition, cf.
Brownie , Nisse, Gardsvor .
Don: Celt. Myth. A Cymric goddess, ancestress of gods.
Donaufiirst : An Austrian water-spirit who asks all who come
to the river what they wish most, and then ducks them
in the river where is all and everything. (Simrock,
DM,, p. 150 ; Bassett, p. 161.)
Door : Maras (q.v.) and other evil spirits never come in
through doors.
If doors open themselves without any apparent cause,
it is a sign that a ghost has just entered. (Silesia, Lower
Saxony.— W uttke, p. 223 ; Ethnologic du Bengale, p. 91.)
In Scotland, doors and windows are opened at the
moment anyone is dying in the house. (Gregor, p.
206 ; Frazer, “ Death and Burial Customs, Scotland/5"
Folklore Journal , Vol. III, p. 282.) Vide Slamming ,
Window.
Dotterels :
“ When dotterels do first appear,
It shows that frost is very near ;
But when that dotterels do go.
Then you may look out for heavy snow/'
— Salisbury Sayings .
Double Fruits : If fruits which are growing double, be divided
and eaten by two persons, they are sure to have a fulfil-
ment of their desires. (Great Britain , India.)
' If a pregnant woman partake of such fruit, she will
give birth to twins. (Mecklenburg. — Wuttke, p. 193 ;
India ; Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 40 ; cf. Karsten, Indian
Tribes of Equador, p. 74 ; Ethnologic du Bengale , p. 81, n. 2.)
Doubles : The apparition of a living person visible either to
himself or to some other person and superstitiously
believed to foretell a great calamity or death.
The appearance of a double or * fetch 5 has ever
been held ... to signify approaching death/' — Proctor,
Light Sc. f ■ ;//■ y:;
Doubt : If one is in doubt he should count the number of
buttons on his coat; if they are of an even number,
he is right ; if of an odd number, wrong. (Jews of Bohemia.)
St. Catherine resolves doubts.
80 A DICTIONARY OF
Dove : In Popavan doves are immune from attacks or
slaughter, as they are supposed to be inspired by departed
souls (Tylor, P.C. , Vol. II, p. 6) ; sometimes they are
said to be animated by the souls of lovers [India),
Witches cannot assume the form of doves, (cf. St. Mark ,
i, 10 ; St. John , i, 32, 33 ; St. Matthew , iii, 16).
According to a legend, doves were the messengers
of Venus.
In sailors' superstition, doves are birds of good omen.
(Bassett, p. 276.) cf. Swallow , Lamb.
Dragon : A mythical monster, represented as a large and
terrible reptile with strong claws like a beast or bird of
prey and a scaly skin. It is generally represented with
wings and sometimes as breathing out fire. The dragon
was consecrated to Minerva, goddess of sagacity and
wisdom, in order to symbolise that wisdom is ever-awake.
In Corea it “ is the embodiment of all forces of motion,
change and power for offence and defence in animal life,
fin, wing, tusk, horn, claws, with the mysterious attributes
of the serpent." (Griffis, Corea , p. 301.) It can trans-
form itself and fly away.
In China the dragon is not a myth, but a real mysterious
animal with all the qualities attributed to it by the
imagination of the Coreans. (De Groot, Rel. Sys. Chin.)
In modern superstition there are four dragon kings,
each bearing rule over one of the four seas, which form
the border of the habitable earth. A peculiar description
of pearl, possessing magic virtues, is said to be carried
by the dragon upon its forehead. (Mayer, Chin. Read.
Man., p. 153.)
Dragons must be killed by one blow only. (Kunos,
T.F.T., pp. 139, 276, 304, etc.)
A black cock when it is seven years old, lays an egg,
from which a dragon comes out. " It has the body of a
snake, has four feet and devours human beings. (Alpen-
burg, Mythen , p. 376; Wuttke, p. 235.)
In Teutonic literature the favourite food of the dragon
is said to have been a virgin.
Dragon is another name of the Devil, and in Christian
legends it is the personification of the spirit of evil.
Vide Sturgeon , Treasure.
Dream : According to some people, e.g., the Indians of North
America, dreams are caused by the soul leaving the body
during sleep and wandering over strange lands. The
Karens say that dreams are what the Id (soul) has seen
on its journey.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
81
Generally speaking, dreams are interpreted by con-
traries in Japan (Griffis, M.E., p. 472, and in India) ;
thus, it is iucky to dream of being murdered and unlucky
to dream of finding money.
If you dream the same dream three times in succession,
it is sure to be fulfilled. (U.S.A. — Knortz, p. 43.)
It is lucky to forget your dreams of the previous night.
( Great Britain, India.)
If one has a bad dream which it is desired to forget on
waking in the morning, the advice is given to spit three
times in order that the desired effect may be produced.
(Mittheilungen der Gesellschaft fur Jiidische Volkskunde,
X, 114 ; jew. Enc., Vol. XI, p. 599.)
St. Christopher protects from bad dreams.
Historic Dreams :
Jacob had an historic dream on his way to Haran
(Gen. xxviii. 12-15). Joseph, son of Jacob, had an
historic dream revealing to him his future greatness
{Gen. xxxvii. 5-10). Daniel had an historic dream about
four beasts which indicated four kingdoms {Dan. vii.).
Pharaoh’s butler and baker had warning dreams, one
being prevised thereby of his restoration to favour, and
the other wrarned of his execution [Gen. xl. 5-23).
Nebuchadnezzar had an historic dream which Daniel
explained {Dan. ii. 1, 31, 45). Abimelech, King of
Gerar, was warned by a dream that Sarah was Abra-
ham’s wife and not his sister {Gen. xx. 3-16.) Joseph,
husband of Mary, was warned by a dream to flee from
Judea ; and when Herod was dead, he was warned
again by a dream to “ turn aside into the parts of
Galilee ” {Matt. ii. 13, 19, 22). In the Old Testament
Pharaoh had a warning dream of a famine which he
was able to provide against {Gen. xli. 15-36).
For the interpretation of dreams see under different
headings.
Drebkuls : The Lettish equivalent of Poseidon, the Earth-
Shaker.
Dress : If a girl breaks the needle (Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 34) or pricks her finger while making a new dress, it is
an omen that she will be kissed wearing that particular dress.
If you dream of being dressed in gay dresses, you will
be blessed with good health.
It is considered lucky to put on any article of dress,
especially stockings, inside out ; but this should not be
done on purpose, neither should it be changed (Chambers,
Book of Days, Vol. II, p. 321 ; Abbott, p. 144.)
A DICTIONARY OF
82
Drink : Drinks should not be stirred with a knife, as this will
cause stomach-aches. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49.)
If you dream you are drinking something cold, it is
a good omen ; but if something hot, you will have a
severe illness. Vide Amethyst.
Drinking Horn : King Arthur had a horn, from which no one
could drink who was either unchaste or unfaithful.
The Cuckold’s Horn, as this was called, was brought
to King Arthur’s court by a mysterious boy -who also
brought the Mantle (q.v.) ; it gave warning of infidelity
inasmuch as no one unfaithful in love or “ unleal ” to his
liege lord could drink therefrom without spilling the
liquor.
The Coupe enchantee of the French possessed a similar
property, cf. Brawn’s Head , Mantle.
Drowning : It is caused by water-nixies who keep the souls
of the drowned inside pots. These souls must become
water-nixies themselves, unless the pots are turned over
by some human being. (Wolf, Beitrage, Vol. II, pp. 293,
297.)
The body of a drowned sailor is preserved as long as
he would have lived had he not been drowned. (M elusine ,
Vol II, Col. 253.)
The body of a drowned person may be located by
floating some straw, which will come to rest above the
spot where the body lies (Haddon, in Folklore , IV, p. 360) ;
or by floating a loaf of bread at the spot where the person
fell into the water ; the bread will come to rest and begin
to turn round where the body lies submerged (Gregor,
p. 208.). Sometimes a luminous light is perceived at the
exact spot where the body of a drowned person lies
(Frazer, in Folklore Journal , III, p. 281 ; Bassett,
p. 3110-
Idiots cannot be drowned because it is the weight of
the brain that drags a person down to the bottom of
the water ; it is the same with persons who have a mole
mark above their mouth (Goodrich-FreeR in Folklore,
XIII, p. 61).
When people drown at sea, a water-sprite appears
in the shape of a headless old man. (Grimm, Teut. Myth.,
Vol. I, p. 491.)
\\ here a person has been drowned, a button from his
waistcoat, mounted on a piece of wood, will indicate the
spot where the body lies, by ceasing to float on its arrival
thither. (Hazlitt, p. 193.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 83
Drujnasu: “Corpse-fiend”; in the A vesta it is the veritable
incarnation of pollution and contagion arising from
decomposition of a dead body.
Drunkard : Vide Song, Splashing.
Dryad : Certain kinds of nymphs. In Classical Mythology, she
was a wood-nymph, or more correctly, a nymph whose
life was bound up with that of a tree.
Dullahan : Irish lore : A malicious sullen spirit or goblin.
Dumb : Children if, while eating, you strike anything with
vour chopsticks, you will be dumb ! {Japan. — Griffis,
"M.E., p. 470.) Vide Wolf.
Dumu-zi : “ Child of life.” A Babylonian god of the solar
type.
Dumu-zi-zuab ■ Babyl. Myth. A deity of a local character.
Nebo (q.v.) appears under this form, which describes
him as a son of the “ deep.”
Dung : Dung is considered offensive to ghosts.
In India, cow-dung is a panacea for all evils ; it cures
various diseases, purifies everything and serves many
other purposes. (Day, Folktales of Bengal ; Ethnologie
dii Bengali, p. 133 ; Larousse, Grande Die. du XlXe
Siecle, Vol. XIV, p. 1255b.)
Horse-dung placed before, a house, or inside the door
brings good luck. ( Great Britain.)
Dun-shagga : Babyl. Myth. A deity of a local character.
Durga : Hindu Myth. Devi (q.v.) in her malignant form is
known as Durga “ the inaccessible.” She is represented
as a yellow woman riding a tiger.
Dusou : The Dusou or Giavanel of the Swiss peasants is a big
supernatural bird of the owl family which speaks to belated
travellers and says : Doumlou (donne-le-moi — give it to
me). Woe betide the man who answers in the affirmative.
(Jalla, Leg. Vand., p. 28.)
Dutchman, Flying : Vide Flying Dutchman.
Dvorvoy : A Russian household spirit who lives in the yard.
Dwarf : Tent. Folklore. Diminutive old men with large heads
and long, white beards. They shunned the light of day,
for the sun’s rays would transform them into stones.
They became invisible at will and their principal occupa-
tion was smith’s work.
For a man to meet a female dwarf (a person of a short
stature) and for a woman to meet a male one, is con-
sidered lucky. [Great Britain, India, Canada.)
A DICTIONARY OF
84
Dyaks : Vide Head-hunting.
Dyaus : In Vedic mythology : (i) heaven ; (ii) the father of
the gods ; hence also called Dyaus-pitri.
Dying : St. Barbara relieves the dying.
Dylan : Celtic Myth. A Cymric sea-god, son of Arianrod.
E
Ea : Assyro-Babl. Myth. A deity belonging to the supreme
triad. He was god of the watery element, giver of arts
and sciences, healer of the sick, and according to one
version, creator of mankind. His consort was Damkina.
Vide Bel.
Eabani : Babl. Myth. A wild man created by the goddess
Aruru to withstand Gilgamesh, but is lured into the service
of the latter by Ukhat.
Eacus : Gr. Myth. Son of Zeus. He was celebrated for his
justice, and, after his death, was made one of the three
judges of the infernal regions ; the other two being Minos
and Rhadamantos (q.v.).
Eagle : The eagle is an emblem of royalty.
Tarquinus Priscus was assured that he would be king
of Rome by an eagle which swooped down upon him,
took off his cap, rose in the air and let the cap fall again
upon his head, : :
Aristander assured Alexander of his victory over
Darius in the battle of Arbela, by the flight of an eagle
(Lloyd: Stratagems of Jerusalem, 290). Vide Mountain
Climbing.
Eagle-Owl : The screeching of the eagle-owl is especially
considered as a portent of disaster. ( Macedonia , Abbott,
p. xo8).
Eagle-Stone : “ The pebble commonly called the aetites, or
eagle-stone was found in the eagle’s nest, and ... the
eggs could not be hatched without its assistance.”
(Pennant, Zoology, 1776, Vol. I., p. 167.)
Ear : Small ears indicate that a person is mean ; large ones
show that he is generous.
If the left ear tingles, it indicates that someone is
talking evil of you ; if the right ear, someone is praising
you. (Abbott, p. hi). The evil foreboded bv the tingling
of the left ear may be averted by biting the little finger
of the left hand:AV/YT:.y
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
85
A burning sensation of the ear indicates that someone
is speaking of you ; thus
<rLeft your lover,
Right your mother.”
— Gt. Britain.
A burning sensation in the ear denotes that you will
receive some news (Campbell, Sup . Scot . High., p. 258).
cf. Bells in the ear , Death Omens .
Earth Mother : Vide Great Mother .
Earthquake : Among the North American Indians earth-
quake is supposed to be caused by the movement of the
earth-bearing tortoise; in Celebes, by the world-support-
ing Hog rubbing himself against a tree ; ^ among the
Caribs, because Mother Earth is dancing. The Elephant
of the Hindus, the Bull of the Moslems, the Frog of the
Mongol Lamas are creatures who carry the earth on
their backs or heads and shake it when they stretch or
shift. According to the Japanese, earthquakes are
caused by huge whales creeping under the earth.
In European mythology earthquakes owe their origin
to the struggles of Loki (q.v.), Atlas (q.v.), Prometheus
(q.v.), Drebkuls (q.v.), etc.
Cattle give warning of an earthquake by their un-
easiness.
St. Christopher protects from the dangers of earth-
quakes.
" These are things
An earthquake brings :
At nine of the bell
They sickness foretell ;
At five and seven they betoken rain ;
At four the sky is cleared thereby
At six and eight comes wind again.”
* — Lean, Vol. II. p. 325.
If you dream of an earthquake, it warns you to be
cautious.
Easter :
“ He who is bom on Easter mom
Shall never know want, or care, or harm.”
— Bergen : Cur . Sup. p. 21.
Eating : In Congo if a king be looked at while eating, he will
shortly die. (Elworthy, E: E., p. 426).
It is a bad omen to dream of others eating*
86
A DICTIONARY OF
In eating, if you miss your mouth and the victuals
fall, it is very unlucky, and denotes approaching sickness.
(Hazlitt, p/205).
In Bengal strangers, especially women, are not allowed
when a child is eating, for fear of the evil eye (cf. Ethnologie
An Bengale, p. 85 and n. 2).
Ebisu : Jap. Myth. A god of luck who is represented as
carrying a fish.
Eblis : English spelling for Iblis.
Echidna : Gr. Myth. A monster, half maid and half serpent.
She gave birth to other monsters, such as Cerberus, the
Hydra, the Chimera, the Sphinx, the Dragons, the Gorgons,
etc.
Echinus : An echinus fastening itself on a ship’s keel, will
arrest its motion like an anchor. (Bassett, p. 258).
cf. Remora.
Echo : Class. Myth. A nymph who, having displeased Juno,
was changed into a rock and condemned to repeat the
last words of anyone speaking to her.
The Anglo Saxons thought that the echo was a spirit.
(A. S. : wudu-mcere— echo; from wudu— wood, mcere—eli,
spirit ; hence, wood-spirit.)
Among the primitive races, the echo is believed to be
an evil spirit.
In Bengal the echo is a wood-spirit mocking people
speaking to it, or in its presence.
Eclipse : The eclipse of the sun and the moon is supposed by
many people to be caused by a demon swallowing them
{Ethnologie du Bengale, pp. 101, 102).
The Irish and the Welsh run about beating kettles and
pans during eclipses. (Hazlitt, p. 341).
In Sumatra it is the sun devouring the moon, or vice
versa. (Marsden, p. 194).
Among the Caribs, it is caused by Maboya, a demon
and a hater of all light, attempting to devour the sun
or the moon.
Among the Hindus, it is caused by the demons Rahu or
Ketu devouring the sun or the moon.
During an eclipse of the sun, poison falls from heaven ;
therefore cattle must be herded, wells kept covered,
and other precautions taken. ( Hessen , Westphalia.—
Wuttkk, p. 145. cf. the Jewish and Indian superstitions.
Ckooke, P.R.I., Vol, I. p, 21). Vide Rahu, Ketu, Maboya ,
Aracho.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
87
Edgewell Oak : This oak indicated the coming death of an
inmate of Castle Dalhousie by the fall of one of its branches,
cf. Death Warnings. (Dalyell, Dark. Sup., p. 504 ;
Hazlitt, p. 205).
Eel ; In Scottish superstition eels grow from horse hairs.
(Campbell, Sup. Scot. High. p. 221).
An eel skin tied round the leg is a cure for cramp.
{India, Crooke, P.R.I. , Vol. II, p. 258 ; Ethnologic du
Bengale, p. 115.)
Eel fat is used as a magic ointment, and gives the power
of seeing the fairies. (Hartland, Sc. F.T., p. 65.)
The eel is a totem of the Munda Kols of Bengal, and
of the Oraons, neither of whom will eat it.
Egeria ; Class. Myth. A nymph endowed with prophetic
powers. According to a Roman legend, Numa is said
to have asked her advice in the forests of Aricia.
Egg : If you eat a raw egg, fasting, on Christmas morning,
you can carry heavy weights (Ragner).
The tenth egg is always the largest. (Gt. Britain).
If you steal an egg, you will have seven years of poverty.
{Jews of Pinsk , Byelostok , Jew. Enc. Vol IX., p. 600).
To find an extremely small hen's egg in the house, is an
omen of an impending death. (Strackerjan, Vol. I.,
p- 25).
Dragons come out of the egg of a black cock. (Alpen-
burg, Mythen, p. 376 ; Wuttke, p. 235).
It is unlucky to dream of eggs ( U.S.A . Knortz, p. 43).
It will addle eggs if you bring them over running water.
(IV. Lincoln, Lean, Vol. II., p. 149).
Bringing eggs into a house after sunset brings ill luck
m
Eggshell : After you have eaten eggs, you should crush the
shells ; you will never suffer from epilepsy if you take this
precaution. (Gt. Britain ; Alsace, Lambs, p. 39).
Ladies, take care ! If you step over an egg-shell, you
will go mad. (Japan. Griffis, M.E., p. 469).
It is lucky to find egg-shells ( Silesia , Wuttke, p. 96 ;
Gt. Britain) .
Ehlose : The guardian spirit of the Zulus, which may take
many forms, and warn a person of an approaching danger.
(Haggard, Nada the Lily, pp. ii, 22, 94, 99).
Eirek : Scand. Myth. Eirek, journeying toward Paradise,
came to a stone bridge guarded by a dragon ; he entered
its maw, and found that he had arrived in a world of
bliss.
88 A DICTIONARY OF
Ekimmu : In Babylonian superstition it was the ghost of a
man ; it represented a class of demons that infest the
graves, cf. Ghoul.
Elathan : Celt. Myth. A king of the Fomors, father of Bress.
Elbow : Itching of the elbow denotes “ a strange bed” (Gt.
Britain), or that you will sleep with a stranger. ( Boston ,
Mass.)
If you accidentally knock your elbow, look out for a
disappointment ; the evil, however, may be averted
by knocking the other one. (Gt. Britain, India.)
' If someone is speaking deprecatingly of you in your
absence, and you have the natural desire of punishing
him by getting him drenched, just bite your elbow ! Easier
said than done ! (Strackerjan, Vol. I., p. 31).
Elder : If you burn elder on Christmas Eve, you will have
revealed to you all the witches and sorcerers of the neigh-
bourhood (Ragner).
Elderberry Tree : The Danish women will never break off a
branch of an elderberry tree without first apologizing
to the spirit of the tree.
Electra : Gr. Myth. A daughter of Agamemnon. Her role
is to urge Orestes, her brother, to vengeance ; and, in
Euripides’ version, actively to assist him.
Vide Aegisthus.
Elemental : They are nature spirits, such as those of land,
water, fire, etc., and are personifications of natural phe-
nomena, or are associated with particular departments of
nature. Vjy-yyd''',:.
“To rise to intercourse with these elemental spirits
of nature was the highest aim of the philosopher.”
— Lecky : Ration. (1865).
Elephant : The Hindus believe that earthquakes are caused
by the earth-bearing elephant shaking himself.
In popular superstition elephants are supposed to
celebrate religious rites.
Elephants have no knees. (Hazlitt, p. 207).
The flesh of an elephant is thought by the Ewe-speaking
peoples of West Africa to make the eater strong. (Ellis,
Ewe-speaking People, p. 99).
Eleusinian Mysteries : The most famous religious mysteries
of the world. riMp-ritP CVC
Eleutheria : Gr. Myth. The goddess of liberty was called
by this name.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
89
Elf ; The name of a class of supernatural beings supposed in
early Teutonic belief to possess magical powers. They
were of a dwarfish form, produced diseases of various
kinds, stole children, caused nightmares, acted as succubi
(q.v.) and incubi (q.v.), etc.
Elian, St. : Leads to the discovery of lost goods.
Elixir : In Alchemy, a preparation by the use of which it
was sought to change metals into gold. It was a supposed
drug or essence with the property of indefinitely pro-
longing life. (Elixir Vitae).
“ I know too where the Genii hid
The jeweird cup of their King Jamshid
With life's Elixir sparkling high."
— Moore, Lalla Rookh. (1815).
Ellefolk : The Elves of Danish superstition.
Elle Woman: In Danish superstition it is the spirit of the
elder tree.
Elmo’s, St., Light : In Brittany it is called a wandering
candle, and is a menace. It is sometimes a lost soul
for whom prayers are asked. In Greece this light is a
bad omen ; it is a demon which breaks masts, destroys
ships and crew, and can be expelled only by the diabolical
cries of a pig. According to the German sailors, it is a
good omen when it mounts up, and the contrary is shown
by its descent. It is the spirit of a defunct comrade. —
(Bassett, p. 314).
Elyll : In Welsh superstition it is a hairy, clumsy creature,
and is the same as a brownie.
Emerald ; Emerald promotes friendship and constancy of
mind.
If a serpent fixes its eye on an emerald, it goes blind.
The emerald is an emblem of success in love. In the
Zodiac it signifies Cancer ; it is dedicated to Mars and
May ; in Metallurgy it means iron, and in Christian art
it is given to St. John.
Empusa : ^ Gr. Myth. A demoniac apparition that appeared
sometimes at midday, sometimes at night. She had the
power of continually changing her shape, but could be
detected by the donkey's leg which was her constant
attribute.
Emu : Some Victorian tribes regard the fat of the emu as
sacred. Anyone who threw away the fat or flesh was held
accursed. (Frazer, G. B VoL III., p. 203).
A DICTIONARY OF
Enceladus : Gr. Myth. One of the most celebrated of the
Titans who revolted against Zeus. He fled to Sicily,
but was captured on the way and imprisoned in Mt. Etna!
His vain efforts to free himself and his breath of fire
made Etna a fire-emitting volcano.
Enchantment : Alectoria (q.v.) is an antidote for enchant-
ment.
Endor, Witches of : Name of the three supernatural beings who
appeared to Macbeth. (Shakespeare : Macbeth.)
Enemy of God and Man : An epithet of the Devil.
En-lil : Babyl. Myth. In the oldest inscriptions Bel is styled
by this name, thus designating him as the chief god
(or demon) Nipur. The name merely describes him as a
powerful demon, but he manifested himself in storms
and other violent disturbances of nature.
Entrance : As a rule, ghosts and spirits must leave a place
the same way as they entered it. (cf. Thorpe, Northern
Myth.; Grimm, Dent. Myth. ; Wuttke, Volksaberelaube.
etc.) Vide Exit.
Enyo : Gr. Myth. One of the Graea;.
En-zu:_ Babyl. Myth. The moon-god Sin is ordinarily
designated ideographically En-zu which describes him as a
*' lord of wisdom.”
Eolus : Class. Myth. Son of Zeus and the nymph Menalippa,
a god of the winds ; it was he who let loose the winds.
Eos : Gr. Myth. The goddess of dawn corresponding to the
Roman Aurora.
Ephesus : _ In Arabia a talisman consisting of a piece of paper
containing the names of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus
is. still used to ward off ghosts and demons.
Vide Grotto of Ephesus, Seven Sleepers of Ephesus.
Ephialtes : In Greece the name given by the ignorant to
account for the nightmare which results from indigestion.
Epiales : In Greece it is a cold shivering fit which precedes*
an attack of fever.
Epidemic : During epidemics open the door only when the
^rm0rrT0lltSrf 6 ha7/ k"ocked thTree times. ( Jews of Galicia
Vid l p£oirqUd ’ 202 ; JeW' Enc - VoL XL P- 6o°)-
Epigones : Gf. Myth. One of the sons of the seven heroes
who ivere beaten before Thebes.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
91
Epilepsy : Three drops of a sow’s milk cure epilepsy (Irish).
The skull of a dead person used to make broth in, cures
of epilepsy (Lean, Vol. II., p. 493).
Epilepsy can be cured by wearing a heavy silver ring
(East Friesland , Wuttke, p. 163) ; or by drinking the
blood of a she-ass (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 84), or of the
executed (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 83), or the hot blood
of a weasel (Tyrol, Alpenburg, Mythen, p. 390) ; or let
the patient carry a golden peacock’s feather under his
shirt (Schiffer, Urquell , v. 290) ; or let him drink the
blood of a black cat ; or let his shirt be buried at the
junction of two roads, after it has been pulled over his
head and carried out through the chimney. (Minsk. —
Jezv. Enc.y Vol. V, p. 426).
If all the above remedies fail, the patient will have
nothing left but to invoke either St. Cornelius or St.
Valentine. Vide Ben nefilim, Eggshell , Ass, Crucifix.
Epimethus : Gr. Myth. Brother of Prometheus. In spite
of his brother’s advice not to receive any present from Zeus,
he accepted Pandora as his wife, and thus brought sorrow
to the human race.
Epitaph : If you would preserve your memory, be warned
against reading epitaphs. (U.S. A.)
Erasmus, St. : Cures colic and gripes.
Erato : Gr. Myth. One of the Muses ; she presides over
elegiac poetry and is represented with a lyre.
Erebus : Class. Myth. Father of Charon.
Erinys : Gn Relig. (pi. Erinyes). One of the avenging spirits
who bring retribution upon those who have violated
the laws of natural piety, hospitality, etc. Originally,
they were the revengeful ghosts of the slain ; later, they
were conceived as snaky-haired women pursuing the
offender, and inflicting madness. They were three in
number : Alecto/ Megsera and Tisiphone.
Eriphyle : Gr. Myth. Wife of Amphiraiis, who foretold to
her husband the disastrous end of the expedition against
Thebes. She was slain by her son Alcmaeon.
Erl King : In Teutonic and Scandinavian folk-lore, a personifi-
cation of a spirit or natural power, supposed to work
mischief, especially to children.
“Dem Vater grauset’s, er reitet geschwind,
Er halt in den Armen das achzende Kind,
Erreicht den Hof mit Miih’ und Not;
In seinen Armen das Kind war tot.”
— Goethe : Erlkonig.
A DICTIONARY OF
92
Eros : Gr. Myth. The god of love, corresponding to Cupid
of the Romans.
Erymanthean : Gr. Myth . A devastating boar which wandered
about in Arcadia. Its capture was one of the labours
imposed upon Hercules.
Erysipelas : The tongue of a fox, worn near the heart, is
a preventive against this disease. (Strackerjan, Vol. 1, 85).
Vide Anthony, St.
Eshshata : Jewish Folk-lore. The name of a spirit of fever.
{Jew. Enc., Vol. IV. p. 517).
Esprit Follet : The French equivalent of a Puck, Poltergeist,
etc.
Eteocles : Gr. Myth. A king of Thebes, son of (Edipus and
Jocasta. His refusal to give up his throne to Polynices
led to the expedition of the Seven against Thebes, in
which the brothers killed each other.
Eternal Jew : In popular superstition it is the Jew who hurried
on Jesus Christ, when He was led to crucifixion. As
a punishment, he is compelled to wander about the wTorld,
homeless and restless, till the Day of Judgment. (S.
Baring Gould, Myths of the Middle Ages ; Eugene Sue,
Le Juif errant, Hazlitt, p. 618). Also known as the
“ Wandering Jew.”
Ethelbert, St. : Leads to the recovery of lost goods.
Ethra : Class. Myth. Mother of Theseus.
Etzel : In the Nibelungenlied, the second husband of Kriemhild,
king of the Huns. Vide Gunther, Siegfried, Hagen,
Kriemhild.
Eucharis : A nymph belonging to the goddess Calypso ;
heroine of an episode of Telemachus.
Eumeus : Gr. Myth. A faithful servant and guardian of the
troops belonging to Ulysses.
Euminides : Gr. Myth. A name by which the Erinyes or the
Furies are often designated.
Eumolpus : Gr. Myth. A son of Neptune and founder of the
famous Eleusian mysteries.
Euphrosyne : Gr. Myth. One of the three Graces.
Euronomus : A grizzly Greek demon who ate the flesh of
corpses. He was blue-black in colour, like a carrion fly,
his teeth were bared, and he is represented as sitting
on the skin of a vulture. (Painted by Polygnotus).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
93
Europa : Gr. Myth. A daughter of Agenor, king of Phoenicia.
She was carried away to Crete by Zeus disguised as a
bull and became the mother of Minos.
European : The finger-nails of Europeans are in popular
belief a deadly poison. ( India — Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I,
p. 279).
Eurus : Gr. Myth. God of the east wind.
Euryale : Gr. Myth. One of the Gorgons.
Euryclea : Gr. Myth. The old nurse of Odysseus, who,
on his return in disguise, recognized him by his scar.
Eurydice : Gr. Myth. A nymph beloved of Orpheus. After
her death by snake-bite, Orpheus descended to the nether
regions, obtained Pluto’s permission to bring her back
to earth, but on his way back he turned round, which
he was forbidden to do, and she had to return to Hades.
Eurynome : Gr. Myth. A sea-goddess, daughter of Oceanus.
Eurystheus : Gr. Myth. A Mycenaean king to whose service
Hercules was bound.
Euterpe : Gr. Myth. The muse of lyric poetry ; she is repre-
sented with a flute.
Even : Vide Odds and Evens.
Evil Eye : A supposed power of bewitching by spiteful looks,
attributed to certain persons as a natural endowment.
The belief is widespread both among savage and civilized
people. (Lehmann, Aberglaube und Zauberei, p. 32 ;
Budge, Egyptian Magic, p. 97, etc. ; Lane, Customs and
Usages of the Egyptians of To-day ; Elworthy, The Evil
Eye; Kohut, Judische Angelologie u.s.w., p. 58 ; Dal yell,
Dark. Sup., p. 3 et seq ; Hazlitt, p. 2x6, 379 ; Abbott,
p. 139 ; Ethnologie du Bengale, pp. 81, 84, 85, 131, 137).
A woman who believes herself to be overlooked is to
take the shift off over her head, turn it three times wither-
shins (=against the course of the sun), then hold it open,
and drop a burning coal through it three times ; then
put it on again (Elworthy, E.E. p. 429).
The evil eye, or in fact any evil, can be averted by
the mother kissing the child thrice, and spitting after
each kiss. (Jew. Enc., Vol. IX. p. 598). Vide Bread,
Tulsi, Horseshoe, Palm, Ribbon, Thread, Stag, Horn.
Evil One : An epithet of the Devil,
Excalibur : King Arthur’s brand/ which, when flung back
into the lake, was caught by an arm clothed in white
samite, cf. Balmung, Tizona. . • ,
A DICTIONARY OF
94
Excrement, Human : This substance, thinned with water and
given to animals, cures inflammations. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 84). Inflammations of human beings can also
be cured by external use of the same, (ib.)
The Bhuts of India feed on human excretion.
Execution : The bones and the blood (Strack, p. 20) of the
executed are a powerful talisman for procuring wealth.
(Silesia, — Wuttke, p. 177. cf. Davis, Chronicles of New-
gate.)
Uncanny things go on at midnight in places where
executions usually take place ; therefore, it is not safe
for people to go there at this time.
To dream of an execution, or places of execution, denotes
that you will suddenly be sought after for relief. Vide
Hand .
Exeter : Derives its name, according to a belief, from the
Romans exclaiming in delight : u Ecce terra ! ” when they
came in sight of where this ancient city now stands.
Exit : A mara or another evil spirit can make her exit only the
way she made her entrance.
Exorcism : The act of driving an evil spirit from the body of
one possessed by adjuration, especially by the use of a
holy name or by magic rites. Vide Beans , Peachwood.
Eye : If the right eye itches, you will be pleased ; if the left,
you will have sorrow. (Gt. Britain, India.)
If the eye of a corpse remains open, or if he smiles,
it is a sign that someone else from the same house will die
soon. (Strackerjan, Vol. I. p. 30).
St. Claire and St. Ottilie cure bad eyes.
It is a very bad omen to dream of losing an eye ; your
friends and relations will die, and you may even lose
your liberty.
“ Blue-eye beauty, do your mammy's duty,
Black-eye, pick a pie,
Run round and tell a lie ;
Grey-eye, greedy-gut
Eat all the world up."
— V.SA. (Bergen, C.S . p. 33).
Vide Smile , Evil Eye , Soreness , Gutta Percha , Kite ,
Rubbing .
Eye of Balor : Vide Balor.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 95
Eyebrows : People with meeting eyebrows are superstitiously
believed to be either vampires orwerewolves. (O’Donnell,
Werewolves', Baring Gould, Book of Were Wolves ; Ranft,
Traded von dem Kauen und Schmatzen der Todten in
Grdbern.)
Eyelid : For a man, the twitching of the right upper lid is
considered lucky, and of the left unlucky ; for a woman,
vice versa. ( Gt . Britain, India, Schiffer, Urquell, ii,
80-82 ; Abbott, p. 112).
F
Fafnir : In the Volsunga Saga, a giant who, in the form of a
venom-breathing dragon, possesses and guards a great
treasure. He was slain by Sigurd.
Fair : To dream that you are going to a fair denotes that your
pockets will be picked.
Fairy : One of a class of supernatural beings of diminutive
size ; in popular belief they are said to possess magical
powers and to have great influence for good or evil over
the affairs of men.
" Heavens defend me from that Welsh fairy, lest he
Transform me into a piece of cheese ! ”
— Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, v., 5.
Faithfulness : If your beloved is untrue to you, light three
candles by the wrong ends and say the Paternoster three
times ; then he is sure to come back to you. {Bohemia).
False Report : If a man is falsely reported dead, he will live
ten years longer. {Silesia, Hesse. — Wuttke, p. 39).
Famine : When crows, robins or rooks forsake a wood in a
flock, it forebodes a famine.
Fangen : Forest spirits of German mythology.
Fantine : Swiss Folk-lore. A class of well-disposed fairies.
“On y voit encore la grotte ou vivaient les fantines
ou masques, tout occupees a procurer le bien-etre des
habitants du vallon. Elies faisaient prosperer 1’ agri-
culture, procurant des saisons favorables, Dans leur
retraite, elles fabriquaient des clochettes pour que le
bdtail ne s Agar fit pas dans les hois, alors plus touffus
qu'aujourd’hui." — Prof. Jean Jalla: Leg. vaud. p. 20.
Farce : If you dream you see a farce, you will have good
success in business.
A DICTIONARY OF
96
Fascination : Human saliva is a charm against fascination.
Fate : Class. Myth. The goddess, or one of the goddesses of
fate and destiny. In Greek mythology they were three
in number : Clotho, Lachesis , and Atropos . cf. Norn,
Parca, Bidhatapurusha, Hathor, Sudicky.
Father-in-law : It is an evil omen to dream of your father-in-
law.
Faun : Rom. Myth. An Italian deity of fields and woods,
represented as having human form with pointed ears,
small horns and sometimes a goat's tail, or as half goat
and half man.
Faunus : Rom. Relig. A rural deity, god of animal life and
fruitfulness, patron of husbandry, hunting and herding
and guardian of the secret lore of nature.
Faust : Faust was a young German, student who, after studying
magic, sold himself to the Devil. The legend has been
immortalized by Goethe.
“ Faust : O Faustus,
Now thou hast but one bare hour to live,
And then you must be damn'd perpetually."
Marlow: Dr . Faustus (1589?).“
Fay : Vide Fairy , Elf,
Feast : To dream that you are feasting without enjoying it
is a forewarning of a great disappointment.
Feather : The presence of game feathers in a feather bed
will prolong the agonies of death ; it is impossible to die
on a pillow stuffed with feathers of doves or pigeons.
(Hazlitt, p. 232).
Feng-hwang : Chin. Myth. A pheasant-like bird of rich
plumage and graceful form and movement, fabled to
appear in the land on the accession of a sage to the throne,
or when right principles are about to prevail. (Mayer,
Chin . Read. Man,, p. 43). cf. Phoenix .
Feng-shui : A system of spirit influence for good and evil,
believed by the Chinese to attend the natural features of
landscape.
Fenian : In Gaelic legend a band of heroes, forming a kind of
free soldiery and chivalric order. Their leader was Finn.
Fenodyres : The Manx name for a brownie.
Fenrir : Norse Myth. A wolf, spawn of Loki, who fights with
Tyr, and is afterwards cast into Niflheim by the iBsir.
He killed Odin in a fight.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 97
Fergus : Gaelic Legend. Son of Finn. He was a bard and an
important member of the Fenians.
Feronia : An ancient Italian Goddess, a protectress of freed-
men and markets.
Fetch : A double (q.v.). “ In Ireland, ‘ a fetch ’ is the super-
natural facsimile of some individual, which comes to
ensure to its original a happy longevity, or immediate
dissolution ; if seen in the morning, the one event is
predicted; if in the evening, the other.”- — J. Banim:
Tales of O’Hara Family , The Fetch. (1825).
" The Earl of Cromwell met the fetch of his friend
William Rufus.” — Tylor: Primitive Culture.
Fetish : A material object supposed by the savage tribes to
possess magical powers, capable of bringing to issue the de-
signs of the owner, or to preserve him from injury. Origin-
ally this name was applied to the rude wooden idols of the
West Africans, but is now applied to similar objects all. the
world over. (cf. R. Maran, Batouala , Lond., 1922, p 79).
Feu Follet : The French name for a Jack-o’-Lantem.
Fever : To cure fever, spill a can of water suddenly on the
patient (Schiffer, Urquell, v. 223), or let him eat something
he does not like. (Jew. Em., Vol. V., p. 223).
In Burma fever is caused by a demon seizing people
trespassing in his domain. He shakes them with ague
till he is exorcised. Apoplectic fits are similarly caused
by other demons. (Tylor, P.C. Vol. II, p. 124). Vide
Epilepsy , Bacon, Cockchafer , Spider, Nail, Willow, Eshshata,
Agate, Magpie.
Fianna Eirinn : Irish for Fenian.
Field : If a man dreams of green fields, he will marry a discreet,
chaste and beautiful woman ; if a woman dreams the same,
she will marry a loving and prudent husband, by whom
she will have prudent and beautiful children.
Field-mouse : In parts of England it is believed that a field-
mouse creeping over the back of a sheep gives it paralysis,
and that this can be cured by shutting up a mouse in the
hollow of a trunk of the witch-hazel or witch-elm tree,
and leaving it to die of starvation. (Brand, Observations,
P- 7 39 J Frazer, Magic Art, vol. i, p. 83).
Fiend : An infernal being, generally mixed up with the Devil.
Fiery Apparitions : Apparitions in the form of fiery dogs and
other animals are usually the spirits of those who have
committed some heinous crime in their lifetime. (Alpen-
BURG, p. 210, etc.).
9g A DICTIONARY OF
Filth i Many spirits, generally of a malevolent nature, take
up their abode in filth. .
„. . Tf tv finger ioints crack when pulled, it is a sip.
"that someonfloU you. (Strackekjak, Vol. I- 91)-
MaS fishermen do not point at anythmg with a finger
CRhys p. qq6). Vide Hcitc.
Finn MacCoul : Gaelic Legend. Leader of the Fenians.
tt . Irkh Mvth. The eldest of the four children of Ler,
m who were changed into swans by their jealous stepmother
and doomed to retain this form though without loss of
human speech, for nine hundred years.
_. a . tc trpp v,e touched, withered or burned with
F’r (£5mng it 1 a warnig to the house that the master
or mistress thereof trill shortly die. (Bkand, Observations,
Vol. HI. P- 233). , .
_. , « Tr^cfi T egend One of the tribes which settled in
Ireland at a verv early date, and who were nearly destroyed
by the Tuatha De Danann. They were identified with
the dark population of short stature, believed to b
Iberian affinities.
Fir Darrig : Irish lore. A little merry red man, not unlike
in his disposition and movements to Puck.
Fire : If the fire springs out of the hearth you will receive
a visit {Dutch — Thorpe, ACM., Vol. Ill, P- 328)- .
The noise occasioned when the enclosed gas m a piece of
burning coal catches fire is a sure indication of a quarrel
between the inmates of the house {Gt. Britain).
H cSldm, play with Sr* at night, they are sure to wet
the bed in their sleep. _ (Strackeejan, Vol. I., 45).
In Tapan the following things foretell a fire . a cock
crowing loudly in the evening, a dog climbing on the roo
SThouse oi building, a weasel crying out once^ and
polling up a peculiar kmd of grass, called the *1 le
(sunrise), which grows on many houses. (GRitris, M. .,
P‘ St7IChristopher saves from fire, St. Agatha protects
from it, but St. Florian should be invoked if a fire has
alriTl:hebfir1?bunits brightly on Christmas rnmning^ it
betokens prosperity during the year ; if it smoulde ,
& aKth the bars of the grate and the
poker drives the devil out of the chimney and so enables
the fire to burn. {Gt. Britain.- Elworthy, E. E., p. 43°)-
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 99
In Ireland a fire is believed to be a great protection
against fairies and witches, (ib. p. 43^- cf- Ethnologic du
Bengale, pp. 82, 92, 133 ; Kuhn und Schwartz, Nord-
deuische Sagen, p. 92 ; Wolf, Beitrage, Vol. II, p. 303 ;
Ploss, DasWeib, Vol. I, pp. 615 seq. ; Wuttke, p. 195 ;
Lady Wilde, p. 118 ; Tylor, Primitive Culture, Vol. II,
p. 178 ; Hylton-Cavallius, War end och Wirdarne,
"Vol. I, p. 191 ; Atkinson, Glossary of Cleveland Dialect,
p 5Q7 ; Hubert et Mauss, Essai sur le Sacrifice, Annee
Social., Vol. II (1897-1898), p. 57, n. 7). Vide Beehive,
Agatha St., Gipsy, Nail.
Fire-Fly : Night blindness is cured by eating a fire-fly. {Bengal).
Fireplace : If the fire in the fireplace bursts with an explosive
sound, it is a sign of a quarrel. {Silesia, Hesse, Mark,
Swabia), but if you spit on it, you will not be the
sufferer. {Mark.-- Wuttke, p. 37).
First : The first of April, August and December are unlucky
days. (Wuttke, p. 22; StrackerJan, Vol. II. p. 52).
First-born Children : They are believed to have the power of
stopping rain ; according to the Muslims, they can do so
bv stripping naked and standing on their heads. In
Calcutta, they need only make a candle of cloth and burn it
{Die, Ret. Eth. Vol. VIII, p. 291).
It is believed in India that a first-born son leaning against
anvthing will attract a thunderbolt to it. {Die. Rel. Eth.
Vol. VIII, p. 290 ; N.I.N.Q., I. (1891) 378).
First-buried : The spirit of the first-buried in a churchyard
can never have rest, but must wander about eternally.
{Hessen, Westphalia — Wuttke, p. 215). cf. Last Buried.
Fish : If you count the number of fish you have caught, you
will catch more that day. {Gt. Britain).
If you meet a priest while on your way to fishing, you
will have a good haul that day. {Gt. Britain ; Japan —
Griffis, M.E., p. 470).
Fish are sometimes transformed into birds (Mayer,
Chin. Read. Man., p. 301).
It is unlucky to dream of a single fish, but lucky to
dream of a shoal.
Spirits and other malevolent demons are very fond of
fish, especially fried (cf. Ethnologic du Bengale, p. 115 ;
Skeat, Malay Magic, p. 326). Vide Net, Woman.
Fisherman : Fishermen spit on their hansel for luck in fishing.
100
A DICTIONARY OF
Fishermen everywhere avoid mentioning at sea the
name of a pig, hare, salmon, trout, or dog, but go out
of their way to find some other word when it is needful
to indicate either of these. (Elworthy, E.E., p. 3x3.
Bassett, p. 279). (For further superstitions, see Bassett,
Legends ’and Superstitions of the Sea and Sailors, Lond.,
1885).
Fish, Great : The larger portion of the treasure of the North
American Indians; the smaller portion being called
Little Fish. (Rider Haggard, Montezuma’ s Daughter),
Fits : To cure fits, go into a church at midnight, and walk
three times round the communion table. (Lean, Vol. II.,
p. 996).
Five : In Japan new clothes or sandals should not be put on
after 5 p.m. (Griffis, M.E., p. 472).
Flatfoot : It is a sign of low descent. Vide Instep.
Flea : A flea-bite on the hand is a precursor of good news
{Silesia, Hesse, Saxony. — Wuttke, p. 34), or it foretells
that you will be kissed. ( Germany , Austria ).
Fleas will never come in a bed if the beds be aired on
the Thursday before Easter. (Strackerjan, Vol. II,
p. 1x1).
Fleas and bugs never infest a dying person. (Lean,
Vol. II, p. 579)-
Flesh and Blood : Flesh and blood of the sacrificed were
eaten and drunk by the Aztecs, because they thought
that this would make them strong and powerful (Wuttke,
Geschichte des Heidentums, Vol. I, p. 268, etc.) ; or
produce inspiration. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 133).
Flint : Ghosts cannot bear the sight of sparks from a flint.
{Mark. — Wuttke, p. 224).
Flood : St. Christopher protects from floods. Vide Frost.
Flora : The goddess of flowers and gardens, the beloved of
Zephyr, and mother of Spring.
Florian : Vide Fire.
Florimel’s Girdle : It would loosen itself or tear asunder
if any woman unfaithful or unchaste attempted to put
it on. cf. Bahman’s Knife, Canace’s Mirror, Sophia’s
Picture, Mantle, Grotto of Ephesus, Water of Jealousy.
Flounder : According to a Sutherland tradition, the wrv
mouth of a flounder arose from making faces at the
rock-cod. (Campbell, Sup. Scot. High., p. 223 ; cf.
Bassett p. 257).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
xoi
The white side of a flounder is caused by the Virgin
Mary’s laying her hand on it. {Finland. — Notes and
Queries, 15-11-1883).
Flour : It is a sin for a Bulgarian not to fumigate the flour
when it is brought from the mill, especially if the mill is
kept by a Turk ; this is done to prevent the Devil from
entering into it. (St. Clair and Brophy, Bulgaria, p. 46 ;
Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 146).
To meet a person carrying flour is a bad omen. [India —
Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p. 127).
Flower : If a flower be plucked from a grave and afterwards
thrown away, the place where the flower falls will be
haunted. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 154).
Flowers or wreaths must not be laid on the bed of a
sick person ; this is injurious to the invalid. (Stracker-
jan,'Vol. I, p. 49).
If you take a flower with you to dinner, wipe your lips
with it after drinking some wine, and give it to your
lover or sweetheart, he or she will fall madly in love
with you. (Floss, Das Weib, Vol. I, 443).
Ghosts sometimes take up their abodes in flowers.
(Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 291).
Fly : Vide Magpie, Vermin.
Flying : The power of flying through the air may be acquired
by eating the heart of an unborn babe. (Strack, p, 21).
Witches are supposed to possess the power of flying
through the air on brooms, goats, etc. (Lehmann, A.Z. ;
Grimm, D.M.)
If you dream you are flying, you are vainly ambitious
and romantic.
Flying Dutchman : A legendary Dutch mariner condemned
to sail against the wind till the Day of Judgment. His
spectral ship, also called by this name, the seeing of which
is considered a very bad omen by sailors, is said to sail
about in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope
with full sails in bad weather. (Capt. Marryat, The
Phantom Ship ; cf. Wolf, Niederlandische Sagen, No. 130 ;
Thorpe, N.M., Vol. Ill, p. 295). Vide Ship Spectral.
Foam : If the foam from a mule’s mouth, mixed with warm
water, be drunk by an asthmatic patient, he will at once
recover, but the mule will die. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. Ill,
P- 23-)
„ . ■ “ Fog on the mu _
= ' Brings water to the mill ,
Fog on the moor
Brings the sun to cs_ p JJ2)
Ikvang : Norse Myth. Frey’s hall in Asgard to which
l“n half of the battle-fallen heroes.
t r-iplir leaend they were giants or sea-demons,
>mor : In Gaelic legena hr.iiPVed to have been overcome
yowcrs of darkness and^etnh believed to ha^^ ^
it^dXU and some with animal
aod1: Food buried with the dead 1 semis to have tad the object
pT? 'lPady Wildh, p. 118 ; I* Bras, Vol. I, p. aby).
Vide Pindi.
ool’s Paradise : Vide Limbus Faiuorum.
kfSgwS r'sif 5 srs to
some unknown place. (Gt. Britain, ^dia Germany^
WuTXKit, p. 41 : among the Jews -Jew. Enc., Vol. IX.,
P' Bhdts enter a person’s body by means of the feet
(Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I, p- 241). cf. Hand. _
Footorint * The Devil is said to leave footprints pointing to-
waris a backward direction. (See the story given by
Tylor in his Primitive Culture, Vol. 1, p- 270;.
Footwear * If thev are lying on a table, they must be put
on the floor before donning them, otherwise they bring
bad luck. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 4°)-
Fork : A fork accidentally dropped signifies a visit from a
woman. {Gt. Britain). Vide Knife.
Forseti: Tent. Myth.: A deity oi ( Frisian origin whose chief
seat was Heligoland. Norse Myth. : Son of Balder.
Fortuna * Class. Relig. An allegoric divinity of the Greeks
and 'Romans. She was the goddess of Fortune ; she. is re-
presented with a bandage round her eyes, and is standing
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 103
Fountain : Dirce, wife of Lycus, was changed into a fountain
by Bacchus, cf. Pirene.
Four-leaved Clover : It is lucky to find a four-leaved clover
(Great Britain ), especially if it be sewn inside the clothes.
(Silesia. — W uttke, p. 96.)
Fowl : “ To bewitch till he die, take a black hen and pluck
from it every feather, and this done keep them all care-
fully, so that not one be lost. With these you may do
any harm to grown-up people or children.” (Leland,
Etruscan Roman Remains , p. 354.)
Fox : The fox and certain other animals are said to possess
a power of bewitching human beings by assuming phantom
forms.
In japan (Griffis, Chamberlain, Aston, Brinkley)
and China (de Groot, Giles, Mayer) for example, the
animal is said to have innumerable powers ; and, in fox-
possession, the spirit of the animal intrudes itself into
the body of a man or woman and exercises a more or
less absolute control over the person in whose body it
resides. (Chin. V olksmarchen .)
If the tongue of a fox be dried and worn near the heart,
it will safeguard you against erysipelas in the face.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 85.) Vide Courage , Hare.
Francus : Myth. Son of Hector. According to the poet Ronsard
in his book Franciade , Francus is said to be the father
of the French nation.
Frau Holle : Ger. Myth. A variation of the Wild Hunt.
Vide Holda .
Freiherr von Guttingen : He collected the poor in a great
barn and burnt them to death, mocking their cries of
agony all the while. He, like Hatto, was invaded by mice
and ran to his castle of Guttingen on Lake Constance,
whither the vermin pursued him and ate him alive.
The Swiss legend says that the castle sank in the lake
and may still be seen. /' ■ y .
Freiherr von Guttingen had three castles, one of which
was Moosberg.
cf. Hatto, Graaf , Widerolf , Adolf.
Frey : Teut. Myth. A Vanir deity of fruitfulness, love,
prosperity and peace. He was united with Gerth, a giantess.
A DICTIONARY OF
anrse Myth The goddess of love and beauty, who
nrSidedyover the regions of the dead. She was one
,e Vanir and daughter of Njorth, and sister of Frey.
famoSs poSessionwas the jewel or necklace Bnsmga-
which was obtained from the dwarfs.
Nails should he cut on a Friday ; it brings luck and
s t0 keep toothache away {Germany), hair cut on
this day grows well ( Silesia ) ; children born on this day
lave ZS to suffer -Wuitke gM*
" Never be bom on a Fnday,
Sick persons should not be visited on a Friday. (Lady
Wilde, p. 214). .
Sailors will not sail on a Friday.
Friday derives its name from Freya or Fngg, to whom
it is dedicated. Vide Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Death Omens.
rndship : Vide Needle, Knife, Dog, Garden, Pm.
\ . Norse Myth. Wife of Odin and goddess of the
sky.* She presides over marriage and. domestic hfe-She
rules not only in heaven, but also m the dark nether
world, the abode of the dead,
ig ; When frogs croak more than usual, it is a sign of bad
^ Frogs, lizards, owls and bats are used for various magical
purposes, and as love charms. (Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. 1,
^To^meet a frog is lucky (Lean, Vol. II, p- 51) > ^
indicates that the person is about to receive money. ^
Frogs or toads must not be lulled on AH Hallows Day,
because “ poor souls reside in them.” (Zingerle, Sitten,
P' Sordine to the Mongol Lamas, a frog supports the
Friday
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
105
On Christmas Eve, South Slavonian and Bulgarian
peasants swing an axe threateningly against a barren
fruit tree. This is done thrice, and then another man
intercedes. After that the frightened tree will certainly
bear fruit next year. (Krauss, V.R.B.S., p. 34.)
The Malays have a similar mode of horticulture. (Skeat,
M.M., 198 seq.) of. Jal Pari , Tree, Stone .
Fukurukuju : Jap. Myth. A god of luck ; he is represented as
possessing an extraordinarily long head and accompanied
by a crane, a deer, and a tortoise.
Full Moon : Cabbages must not be planted at the time of the
full moon ; if done, the seeds will come up on the top the
next morning ; the moon draws them up ! (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 49.) Vide Moon .
Furies : English name for the Erinyes.
Fye-token ; It is the name given for a “ waff ” in Scotland.
Fylfot : Same as Swastika.
Fylgja : Norse Myth. Tutelary spirits which attended a person
either as his soul or as guardian spirits.
G
Gee a ; Gr. Myth. The earth as a goddess, the eldest born of
Chaos.
Gal-alim : Babyl. Myth. A deity of a local character.
Galatea : Sicilian Myth. A sea-nymph beloved by Polypheme,
a Cyclops, She herself had a heartache for Acis. The
jealous giant crushed his rival under a huge rock and
Galatea, inconsolable at the loss of her lover, was changed
into a fountain. The word Galatea ” is used poetically
for any rustic maiden, (Dr. Brewer, R,H.f p. 401 ;
Petit Larousse , p. 1335.)
Gale : A gale is caused by the spirit of the winds rushing
through the air.
A gale is foretold by many crows getting together in
the early morning. (Tibet.— Waddell, p. 136.)
Gallu : In Babylonian superstition this was a demon ; the word
signifies “ the great one.”
Gammadion : Another name for the Swastika (q.v.).
.v.'Gs: ■ a • ■
io6 A DICTIONARY OF
Gandini : Hindu Myth. Daughter of Kasi Raja ; she had
been twelve years in her mother’s womb, when her father
desired her to come forth. The child advised her father
to present to the Brahmans a cow every day for three
years and at the end of that time she would be born.
This was done and the child on being born, received the
name of Gandini, “cow daily.” (Dowson, H.C.D.,
p. 106.)
Gandreid : “ Spirit’s ride ” ; the Norse name for the “ Wild
Hunt ” (q.v.).
Ganesha : Hind. Myth. The god of wisdom and prudence ;
the remover of obstacles. He is the son of Siva and
Parvati ; he is represented as a short, fat, yellow man
with a large belly and with the head of an elephant.
Generally, he is sitting cross-legged.
Ganymede : Gr. Myth. A beautiful shepherd boy of Phrygia,
who was carried up to Olympus by Zeus, and made cup-
bearer of the gods.
Garden : If you dream of a garden, and the trees are bare,
your friends will become poor, or you will lose their
friendship ; but if the trees are in blossom, you will have
prosperity.
Gardsvor : “ House-guardian ” ; they are the household-
spirits of the Scandinavians, cf. Brownie, Nisse, Domovoy.
Garlic : In Serbia rubbing the breast with garlic is a protec-
tion against a spirit that flies about at night.
The presence of Mamdos and other evil spirits is easily
detected by the smell of garlic. {India.)
Danish mothers used garlic to keep evil away from
children. (Brand, Observations, p. 335.)
Garlic was an old English cure for a fiend-struck
patient. (Chambers, Book of Days, vol. i, p. 720.)
In India (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 35 ; Ethnologie
du Bengale, pp. 118, 85 n. 3 ; cf. Jolly, Recht and Sitte,
pp. 157 seq. ; Durkheim, La Prohibition de Vinceste,
Annie Sociologique, Vol. I, 1896-1897, pp. 44 seq.), and in
Macedonia (Abbott, p. 141), garlic is said to scare, away
demons.
Garm : Norse Myth. Hell’s watch-dog, a monster who at
Ragnarok breaks loose from his chains, bays terribly and
slays and is slain by Tyr. cf. Cerberus.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 107
Garnet : The garnet is an emblem of constancy and is, like
the jacinth, dedicated to January.
This was the carbuncle of the ancients, which, they
said, gave out light.
Garter : The exchange of a yellow garter means a proposal
in six months. ( Washington , D.C. — Bergen, C.S., p. 65.)
If a bride loses a garter, it is a sign that the marriage
will be broken off. (Strackerjan, Yol. I, p. 35.) cf. Veil.
Garuda : (pron. Garur) . The Garuda of Buddhist mythology
is a mysterious being whose form is like that of a bird of
prey, not unlike an eagle or vulture. Vide Tengu.
Gates of Gundoforus : No one carrying poison could pass through
these gates. They were made of the hom of the homed
snake by the Apostle Thomas. He built a palace of
sethym wood for the Indian prince Gundoforus, and set
up these gates. Vide Horn, Nurjehan’s Bracelet, Unicorn,
Peacock, Rhinoceros, Venetian Glass.
Gauri : Hindu Myth. Devi (q.v.) considered as a beneficent
deity.
Gautami : Hind. Myth. An epithet of Durga. (ii) Name of
a fierce Rakshasi or female demon.
Gefjon : Norse Myth. A minor goddess resembling Freya.
She shares Odin’s knowledge of world’s fates and. to her
come those who die as maids.
Geomancy : Divinations by means of points made in sand,
or by means of pebbles or grains of sand placed on a
piece of paper.
Germane, St. : The patron saint for children. Vide Child.
Gerstenalte : “ Barley-gaffer ” ; a Teutonic field-spirit of the
human type.
Gerth : Teut. Myth. A giantess, wife of Frey.
Gertrude, St. : Vide Mouse, Rat, Vermin.
Geryon : Gr. Myth. A giant with three heads, who was killed
by Hercules.
Getting out of Bed : You should not get out of bed with the
left foot first ; if you do so, you will have ill luck the whole
day. ( Silesia , Hesse, Saxony. — Wuttke, p. 131 ; Olden-
burg.— Strackerjan, VoL I, p. 35 ; India, Great Britain,
Bohemia, Persia, Turkey, etc.)
A DICTIONARY OF
108
Ghaddar : (Ar.). An evil spirit of Arabic superstition ;
it is said to be an offspring of Iblis and is described as
found in the borders of El-Yemen. It entices men and
either tortures them or merely terrifies and then leaves
them. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 44.)
Gharrar : Another spelling for Ghaddar.
Ghost : The soul of a deceased person spoken of as appearing
in a visible form or otherwise manifesting its presence to
the living.
“ Ghost : I am thy father’s spirit ;
Doomed for a certain term to walk the night,
And for the day confined to fast in fires,
Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature
Are burnt and purg’d away. ...”
Shakespeare, Hamlet, i. v. 15.
To dream of a ghost tells you that persons you fancy
to be your enemies are perhaps your best friends.
Ghoul : (Ar.). The Arabs regard it as a kind of Shaitan,
that eat men and are capable of assuming various forms ;
they haunt burial grounds and other sequestered spots
and feed upon dead bodies. They are supposed to be the
offsprings of Iblis. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 43.)
In all Mohammedan countries they are supposed to rob
graves and prey on human corpses ; they also kidnap
children and devour them. (See the story given in Grande
Dictionnaire de la latigue frangaise.)
“ It sucks with the vampire, gorges with the ghoule.”
— Lowell, Among my Books.
Sergeant Bertrand who dug up dead bodies from the
Cimeti&re du P&re Lachaise and other cemeteries in and
around Paris, and whose case created a great sensation
in 1848, has been considered by Mr. Elliot O’Donnell
(Werewolves) to have been possessed by a ghoul ; in
the opinion of Dr. R. von Krafft-Ebing ( Psyckopathia
Sexualis. Eng. tr. p. 70), it was a clear case of sadism,
cf. Tardieu, Attentats aux mcenrs, 1878, p. 114;
Legrand, La folie devant les tribuns, p. 514 ; Ploss,
Das Weib, Vol. II, p. 591.) Vide Ankle-bone, Iron,
Tooth.
Ghritachi : Hind. Myth. The name of an Apsaras or celestial
nymph.
Giant : Gr. Myth. The offspring of Uranus and Gaea (Heaven
and Earth), who rebelled against the gods.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
109
A mythical manlike or monstrous being of a huge
stature and of more than mortal but less than godlike
power and strength. They appear very frequently in
mediaeval romances and nursery tales, as also in traditions
and romantic fiction.
Giantess : The female counterpart of a giant.
Giavanel : Another name for the Dusou (q.v.)
Gift : Sharp instruments should not be given as gifts, they
cut friendship ; neither pointed instruments. Vide
Scissors, Shoes.
Gigantomachy : “ The war of the giants.”
Gigelorum : In Celtic superstition this is the smallest animal
in the world. All that is known about it is, that it makes
its nest in the mite’s ear. (Campbell, Sup. Scot. Highl.,
p. 220.)
Gildas, St. : Guardian saint of idiots.
Gilgamesh : Babyl. Myth. A legendary king, hero of an epic
bearing his name. With Eabani, his comrade, who dies,
he is afflicted with foul diseases. Ut-napishtim (q.v.)
cures him and directs him to the plant of immortality.
Nergal grants him an interview with the ghost of Eabani
who describes the sad lot of the dead in the underworld.
Gin-sai : A fabulous bird “ capable of diffusing so venomous
an influence that even its shadow poisons food.” (Griffis,
Corea, p. 306.) cf. Basilisk, Dragon, BazalUek.
Gipsy : Gipsies can cure various diseases and tell fortunes.
(Great Britain.)
Gipsies can protect houses from burning. (Wolf,
Beitrdge, Vol. II, p. 376; Schonewerth, Vol. II, p. 83;
Wuttke, p. 140.)
Girdle : If a girdle be accidentally loosed on a woman, it is
construed into an omen of an easy delivery. (Macedonia. —
Abbott, p. 99.) Vide Stocking.
Girru : Babyl. Myth. A deity symbolizing the element of fire.
Gjallhom : Norse Myth. The horn belonging to Heimdall,
warder of Asgard.
Gladsheim : Norse Myth. The abode of Odin in Asgard.
Glaisein : The Glaisein of the Isle of Man was a kind of
brownie and was “ very strong, he frequented farms,
threshed corn and went to the sheep-folds.” (Campbell,
West Highland Tales, Introd. liii.)
Glaisrig : Manx Folklore. A female fairy or goblin, half-
human, half-beast.
no
A DICTIONARY OF
Glaistig : Manx Folklore. A kind of she-goblin which takes
the form of a goat.
The Glaistig of the Highlands of Scotland was “ a
tutelary being in the shape of a thin grey little woman,
with long yellow hair reaching to her heels, dressed in
green, haunting certain sites and farms, and watching in
some cases over the house, in others over the cattle.”
(Campbell, Sup. Scot. Highl., p. I55-)
Glashan : In West Highland superstition it was a hirsute spirit
that rebelled against clothing, cf. Gruagach.
Glass : You are sure to invite a quarrel if you look through a
piece of broken glass. {Great Britain .)
A glass full of water which must not be drunk, protects
the house from robbery and theft. ( Bohemia , Parts of
Germany.)
Glaucus : Gr. Myth, (i) A Boetian fisherman who was later
made a god' of the waters.
(ii) Son of Sisyphus and father of Bellerophon. He was
devoured (torn to pieces ?) by horses for having spoken
derogatorilv of Venus.
Gloso : “ Glow sow ” ; a field spirit of Swedish folklore.
Glove : It is unlucky to lose a glove. [Bathurst, N.B.)
Glutton : If you cannot make your thumb and finger meet
round your wrist, you are a glutton. (. Prov . of Quebec.- —
Bergen, C.S., p. 35.) Vide Mole.
gNan : They are malignant Tibetan spirits who are believed
to cause pestilential diseases ; they infest certain trees,
rocks, and springs.
Gnat : When gnats fly low, it indicates rain at hand. When
they fly high and are at all abundant, fine weather may
be expected. ( Great Britain.)
Gnome : A species of supernatural deformed dwarfs who,
according to the Jewish cabbalists, inhabit the centre of
the earth. They are supposed to be guardians of hidden
treasures.
Goat : He-goats are the favourite mounts of witches. (Grimm,
D.M., p. 1049 ; KtiHN und Schwarz, 18, 232, 470 ;
Leubuscher, Die Wahmolfe ; Strackerjan, Vol. II,
P. 87.)
Witches and demons sometimes assume the form of
he-goats. (Ennemoser, Hist. Mag., Vol. II, p. 148.)
The Garos of Assam offer a black goat on the top of a
mountain in times of drought. (Dalton, Descriptive
Ethnology, p. 88).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
in
Gobelinus : According to Ordericns Vitalis (12th century), it
is the popular name of a spirit which haunted the neigh-
bourhood of Evreaux.
Goblin : A kind of mischievous spirit of a grotesque shape,
“ Bhutas are evil spirits of the lowest order, corres-
ponding to our ghosts and other goblins of the nursery/'
Elphinstone, Hist, of India (1841).
God : The Jews and the Mohammedans do not call God by
name, lest they commit the crime of blasphemy.
“ Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy
God in vain/' The Ten Commandments ( Exodus xx, 7).
cf. Qor’an , Skedim .
God, Blind ; A common epithet of Cupid, god of love.
God of Luck : Jap. Myth. There are in all seven gods of luck.
They are : Fukurokuju, Daikoku, Hotei, Bishamon,
Benten, Ebisu and Jurojin. (Chamberlain, p. 235 ;
cf. Anderson's Catalogue of Japanese and Chinese
Paintings in the British Museum , pp. 27-46.)
God-father : A man must not be god-father to a baby girl,
lest she die a spinster. (W etterau, Westphalia. — Wuttke,
p. 199.)
God-mother : Pregnant women must not become god-mothers
to other children ; if they do so, either their own or the
god-children will die. [Pomerania, Silesia . — Wuttke,
P- I93-)
God-parents : God-parents whose god-children have died
must not be god-parents again, lest the others die too.
(W etterau, Westphalia. — Wuttke, p. 199.)
Gog : Gog and Magog were the popular names of two enormous
wooden statues erected in 1708 in the Guildhall, London.
Goitre : Vide Stones, Tattooing.
Gold : To dream of gold denotes success and money.
Golden Age : A fabled primeval period of perfect human
happiness and innocence, in which the earth yielded her
fruits without toil and all creatures lived in peace.
Gold Fish : They were formerly supposed to live on gold.
(Conway, Demonology, Vol. I, p. 228.)
Golden Fleece : The fleece of gold taken from the ram on
which Phryxus was carried through the air to Colchis,
and in quest of which the Argonauts sailed under Jason.
Golem : Everything that is in a state of incompletion, or
everything not fully formed. Originally it meant
“ embryo.”
XI2 A DICTIONARY OF
Goll : Gaelic legend. The leader of a band which Finn out-
witted.
Good Friday : Bathing on this day in the river is especially
beneficent for the itch. (Panzer, Beitr. zur deut. Myth.,
I, 258.)
One should not go into the garden on a Good Friday ;
caterpillars will be numerous if this be done. (Wuttke,
p. 18.)
Goose : A goose is the silliest animal on earth, hence the
expression “ a silly goose.”
If the breast-bones of a roasted goose are white or
bluish, it is a sign of a severe winter ; if brown, of a mild
one. (StrackerJan, Vol. I, p. 25 ; Hazeitt, p. 284 ;
Atkinson, Cleveland Glossary.)
Geese give warning of death by flying round a house.
(Owen, pp. 304, 205.) Vide Barnacle, Holly, St. Matthew’s
Day.
Gopis : Hind. Myth. The cowherd damsels and wives with
whom Krishna (q.v.) sported in his youth. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. xi3.)
Gorgon : Gr. Myth. They were monsters with snakes for
hair; their look was so terrible that it turned anyone
into stone. They were three in number and were called :
Medusa, Euryale and Stheno ; of these Medusa alone was
mortal.
In modern Greek folklore a gorgon is represented as
half woman, half fish. Their favourite resort, especially
on Saturday nights, is reputed to be the Black Sea.
(Lawson, p. 185.)
Gorska makva : In Bulgarian superstition she is a hag who
torments children by night. She is a frightful wood-
spirit with the head like that of an ox, and is the exact
counterpart of the Russian Kriksy.
Gout : Walking in the fields on a Friday morning before
sunrise cures gout. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 497.)
St. Wolfgang relieves people suffering from this disease.
Go-Vardhana ; Hind. Myth. A mountain in Vrindavana,
which Krishna induced the cowherds and cowherdesses
to worship instead of Indra. This enraged the god, who
sent a deluge of rain to wash away the mountain and all
the people of the country ; but Krishna held up the
mountain with his little finger for seven days to shelter
the people of Vrindavana. Indra retired baffled and
afterwards did homage to Krishna. (Dowson, H.C.D.,
p. 114.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 113
Graaf : A German count who, in order to enrich himself,
bought up all the corn. One year a sad famine prevailed,
and the count expected to reap a rich harvest by his
speculation, but an army of rats pressed by hunger,
invaded his barns, and swarming into his Rhine castle,
fell on the old baron, worried him to death, and then
devoured him. cf. Freiherr von Giittingen, Hatto, Widerolf,
Adolf,
Graces : Class. Myth. Graceful and beautiful maidens, sister
goddesses, represented as intimate with the Muses. They
were three in number: Aglaia (Brilliance), Euphrosyne
(Joy) and Thalia (Bloom) ; they were regarded as inspirers
of the qualities which give charm to nature — love, wisdom,
etc.
Grreae : Gr. Myth. Watchers for the Gorgons, daughters of
a sea-deity. They were born with grey hair and had but
one eye and one tooth between them. They were three in
number and called ; Deino, Enyo and Pephredo.
Graha : The power that seizes and obscures the sun and
moon, causing eclipses. Vide Iiahti, Ketu, Maboya,
Aracho.
(ii) Evil spirits with which people, especially children,
are possessed and which cause sickness and death. They
are supposed to be amenable to medicine and exorcism.
(Dowson, H.C.D., p. 114.)
Grama-devata : “ Gods of the village ” ; in North India
they are generally non-human spirits.
Grand Veneur : At certain times of the year, a spectral hunts-
man, accompanied by his full ghostly pack of hounds,
is said to hunt in the forest of Fontainebleu. He is the
Wild Huntsman (q.v.) of France, cf. Herne the Hunter,
Wodan.
Grape : It is a good omen to dream of eating grapes ; you will
have profits.
Grass : If a dog eats grass, it is a sign of an approaching
rain. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 24). Cats chewing grass
prognosticate the same.
On Christmas Eve, thrash the garden with a flail,
with only your shirt on, and the grass will grow well
next year (Ragner).
Grass Demon : The name of a Teutonic field-spirit who lives
in the meadows.
Grave: To dream of an open grave denotes sickness and
disappointment.
II4 A DICTIONARY OF
Great Bear : Callisto (q.v.) after her death, became the con-
stellation Great Bear.
Great Mother : The nature goddess of Anatolia whose chief
name is Cybele.
Green : This is an unlucky colour and should therefore be
avoided as much as possible. (Great Britain .)
“ Brides in green
Keep sorrow unseen/'
( Great Britain.)
Grey : This colour like black, is unlucky ; it denotes death
and guilt.
Grigri : Another name for Juju.
Grim : Norwegian Superstition. A spirit of the waterfalls.
In a story, a mysterious water-fairy, a musical genius,
who plays to everyone and requires a white kid every
Thursday. (Thorpe, N.M., Vol. II, p. 23.)
Gripes : St. Erasmus cures gripes.
Groats : In German folklore they are the hidden enchanted
treasures of the dwarfs. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 79.)
Grotto of Ephesus : Near Ephesus was a grotto containing
a statue of Diana, attached to a reed, presented by Pan.
If a young woman charged with dishonour, entered this
grotto and the reeds gave forth musical sounds, she was
declared to be a pure virgin ; if, on the other hand, it
gave forth hideous noises, she was denounced and never
seen more. (Lord Lytton : Tales of Miletus, III.)
Vide FlorhmVs Girdle, Mantle, Candle Glowing, etc .
Gruagach : A spirit of Skipness who, like Glashan, rebelled
against clothes. ■ -■■■■ . eh'D/T/;/
Grumisel-rou : A kind of Swiss spirit, which appears in the
form of a red ball of fire. (Jalla, Leg* Vaud., p. 27.)
Guan Di : The Chinese god of war. His name is supposed to
be a charm against a multitude of evils.
Guan Yin ; Buddhist Folklore. A being who helps in time of
need. She is the goddess of charity and pity ; she is
represented as dressed in white and riding an” elephant.
{Chin, Volksmdrchen , p. 202.)
Vide Pa Hidn , Wen Ju .
Gudrun : Volsunga Saga. A sister of Gunnar ; she wins
Sigurd by the help of a magic draught and, after his
death, marries Atli.
Gula : BabyL Myth. The consort of Ninib.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 115
Gun : Guns should neither be carried nor placed on the head ;
this prevents a child from growing taller. {Japan. —
Griffis, M.E., p. 470.)
Gundoforus : Vide Gates of Gundofonis.
Gunnar : Volsunga Saga. Brother of Gudrun, husband of
Brvnhild.
Gunther : Nibelungenlied. King of Burgundy, whose sister
Kriemhild (q.v.) is married to Siegfried. After the murder
of Siegfried, Gunther and his knights are treacherously
slaughtered at the instigation of his widow, Kriemhild.
Gutrune : In the “ Ring of the Nibelungen ” she is Gunther's
sister who became wife of Siegfried.
Gutta Percha : If you wear gutta percha soles to your boots
or shoes you will have diseases of the eye and impaired
sight. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 165.)
Gwrach y Rhibyn : Welsh Folklore. A spirit which gives
warning of an approaching death. (Rhys, C.F., p. 953.)
cf. Banshee , Smrtnice, Bozaloshtsh , Death Warnings.
Gwydion : Celt. Myth. A Cymric deity, husband of Arianrod,
famous as a magician. He is a friend of mankind, a giver
of arts and civilization, and is against the underworld
powers.
Gwyn : Celt. Myth. A Cymric underworld deity, who conducts
the souls of the dead to Annwn. In later Welsh legends,
he is a king of the fairies.
Gwragedd Annwn : These are Welsh fairies of lakes and
streams, and are neither mermaids nor sea-maidens.
They are said to be descendants of villagers condemned
to sink below the waters for reviling St. Patrick on one
of his visits (Sikes, Brit. Gob., p. 35).
They may be brought up by mortals by dropping
bread and cheese in the water, (ib., p, 41 ; Bassett,
p. 151.) y : .
Habergeis : In Tyrol it is a malicious bird which is one of
the Devil's tools. Its cry denotes death, and anyone
imitating it would at once be torn to pieces. (Alpenburg,
Mythen, p. 385 ; Zingerle, Sitten, p. 42.)
n6 A DICTIONARY OF
Habsburg : The Habsburg family of Austria is said to have
an ancestress who -gives warning of an approaching death
or deaths. By some authors she has been confused with
the White Lady of the Hohenzollems. cf. Melusine,
White Lady.
Hackelberg, Hackeiberend : The Wild Huntsman of Germany
is usually known by this name.
Hacketaler : This is the German equivalent of the Luck
Penny. (On the method of obtaining one of these, see
Wuttke, Der deutsche Volksaberglaube der Gegenwart,
P- I77-)
Haddock : The black spots on each side of a haddock near
the gills, are the impression of St. Peter’s finger and thumb,
when he took the tribute money from the fish’s mouth,
or of Christ when he held the fish, at the time he fed the
“multitude.” [Great Britain, cf. St. Matthew, xiv, 16-21).
A haddock’s bones should not be burnt in Scotland.
A haddock once said :
“ Roast me and boil me,
But dinnah burn my behns.
Or then I’ll be a stranger
Aboot yi’r hearth-stanes.”
(Brand, Observations, Vol. Ill, p. 262 ;
Bassett, p. 260.)
Hades : Rom. Myth. The god of the lower worlds corresponding
to Pluto of the Greeks.
Haemorrhage : Topaz is favourable for haemorrhages .
Hafaza : (Ar.) Moham. Myth. Certain angels who protect
men from the jinni and the shaitans. They are four in
number, two of whom are on duty at daytime, and two
at night. The hafaza write down the actions of man and
keep an account of his good as well as of his bad deeds.
Haferbock : “ Oat-goat ” ; a field-spirit of German folklore.
Hagen : Nibelungenlied. A fierce knight in the court of
King_ Gunther, -who treacherously slays Siegfried (q.v.)
and is himself slain by Kriemhild (q.v.), his widow.
Haimavati : _ Hind. Myth. “ Daughter of the Himalaya
Mountains ” ; one of the various epithets of Devi.
Hair : If a dog bites you, any evil consequences may be
averted by applying three of the dog’s hairs to the wound.
(Great Britain.)'
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
i*7
Hair should under no circumstances be thrown away,
as other people finding it may perform many magical
operations harmful to the owner. [Great Britain , France ,
Germany , India , etc,) In India, however, women may
throw their hair away, provided they tie it to something.
(Day, Folktales of Bengal , p. 87.); or in Europe, spitting
on cut hair before throwing it away will be sufficient to
prevent it being used by witches. (Zingerle, Sitten , etc,.
Nos. 176, 580 ; Melusine, 1878, c. 79 ; Frazer, G.B.,
Vol. I, p. 204 ; Elworthy, E.E., p. 416.)
Men's hair turns grey upon a sudden and violent fright.
“ Thy father's beard is turned white with the news."
—Shakespeare.
Hair is considered to be the seat of strength. (Frazer,
The Magic Art , Vol. I, pp. 102, 344 ; cf. the story of
Samson.)
The Muslim exorcists of India tie a knot in the hair
to prevent certain devils from escaping. (Crooke,
Islam in India , p. 237.)
The women of Leon believe that selling hair is equivalent
to selling their souls, (le Braz, Vol. I, p. 367.)
In Wales hair, after it has been cut, is carefully collected
and hidden away, for to bum it would be injurious to the
health. (Rhys, C.F., p. 599.)
“ A hairy man's a geary man, but a hairy wife's a
witch." (Lean, Vol. II, p. 39.)
If a Japanese should set his hair on fire, it is a sign that
he will go mad. (Griffis, M.E. , p. 468.)
A girl whose lover comes seldom to her, can remedy
this by tearing out one of his hairs without his knowledge.
Hair should not be combed with a comb which has
been used for a dead person ; if this be done, the person
using it will die a speedy death. (East Prussia . — Wuttke,
P. 214.)
If a child’s hair be cut before its seventh year, he will
have no courage. (Wolf, Beitrdge, Vol. I, p. 209.)
If you dream you are combing your hair, and it is long
and fine, you will have many joys of short duration.
“ Comb your hair after dark,
Comb sorrow to your heart."
— Great Britain, India,
Vide Arm, Love, Pulling Hair, Nest, Age, Friday.
Hair Cutting ; A boy's hair must not be cut till he is seven
years old ; this would prevent him getting strong.
(Wetterau, Westphalia . Wuttke, p. 202.)
1x8
A DICTIONARY OF
If a child’s hair be cut, an elf lock will grow. (Jew.
Enc., Vol. IV, p. 31 ; Vol. IX, p. 601.)
Hairpin : Hairpins dropping out of the head indicate that
someone is thinking of you ( Great Britain), or that you
will lose a lover. [Germany.) cf. Shoelace.
Hairy Body : If a person’s body is very hairy, it indicates
that he will be lucky. [Jew. Enc., Vol. VI, p. 158.)
If a man’s chest be devoid of hair, it is a sure sign that
he is, or will be, a thief. [Bengal.)
If a woman’s body be hairy, she will either be unfaith-
ful to her husband or be a widow. [Northern India.)
Haizum : Moham. Myth. The horse which Gabriel rode
when he led a squadron of three thousand angels against
the Koreishites in the famous battle of Bedr.
Hakenmann : Tent. Folklore. “ Hook-man ” ; a male nix
who was armed with a hook, so that he might drag his
victims down into the water.
Ham : Throwing ham, lard and other eatables in the fire is
considered to be a protection against the house burning.
(Wuttke, p. 87.) This is done probably, to appease the
spirits of the fire.
Hamadryad : Certain kinds of nymphs living in trees and
mentioned in classical mythology.
Hand : On the night of Hosha’na Rabbah, anyone who tries
to read his future from his shadow and does not see the
shadow of the right hand, will lose a son during the year ;
if he fails to see the left hand, he will lose a daughter ;
if a finger, he will lose a friend. [Jew. Enc., Vol. VI,
p. 212, quoting Buxtorf.)
If a person has cold hands during your marriage, it is
a sign that you will die soon. [East Friesland — Wuttke,
P- 4I-)
Cold hands at the beginning of a journey is an indication
that the person will never return. ( Thuringia . — -ib.)
“ Cold hands and a warm heart.” ( Great Britain .
cf. KaUe Hcinde , warmes Herz ).
Shuts enter a person's body by means of the hands ;
hence much is made of ablution, (India. Crooke, Vol. I,
P-241*)
1 he dried up hand of an executed criminal is a power-
ful charm. {India, Crooke, P,RJ.} Vol. II, p. 245.)
The hand of a dead man is used to stir the milk when
butter will not form, (Brand, Observations , p. 732 ;
N.LN.Q., II, 2x5 ; Lady Wilde, Legends , 81 seq., 172.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
119
The Cornish miners sometimes see a dead hand holding
a light. This is a sure indication of ill-luck, (le Braz,
Vol. I, p. 35, quoting Revue des traditions populaires;
Vol. II, p- 474-)
On telling fortunes by the hand, see Mrs. John White :
Shall I tell you your Fortune, my pretty Maid?
Hand of Gadkhali : In popular Indian superstition this_ is
the name by which a certain authentic(!) ghost of Gadkhali,
a village in Bengal, which was devastated by a cholera
epidemic, is designated. The existence of this particular
ghost is unquestionably recognized by the Bengal peasantry.
Han Siang Dsi : Chin. Myth. The seventh of the Immortals
(q.v.).
Hantu : Among the Malays the demons or evil spirits are called
bv this name ; they are supposed to cause various diseases.
(Skeat, Malay Magic ; Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 115.
cf . the Ruahs of Jewish superstition.) Thus :
Hantu Kalumbahan : causes small-pox.
Hantu Kamong : brings on inflammation of the hands and
feet.
Hantu Pari : sucks the blood of the wounded and thus causes
blood to flow. Vide Vampire.
(For other kinds of Hantus, See Skeat, Malay Magic.)
Hanuman : “ Monkey God ” ; in N. India he is installed at
the foundation of every settlement.
In Hindu mythology he is the son of the wind and
a monkey-nymph. He was the ally of Rama (q.vj in his
war against Ravana, the demon king of Lanka [Ceylon).
He is represented as huge in stature, golden in colour
with a ruby face, and is the hero of numerous exploits.
Hanging : The personal belongings or the dismembered parts
of the body of a hanged person bring luck. (Wuttke,
p. 104 ; cf. Griffith, Chronicles of Newgate ; Lean
Vol. II, p. 483.) Vide Hand.
Hapi : Egypt. Myth. The dog-headed genius of Amenti.
He was associated with the South.
Hara-kiri : “ Suicide by means of opening the belly ” of the
Japanese is probably a remnant of the belief that a
dead man requires attendants in the spirit world to
administer to his needs. Vide Horse, Camel, Burial, Sati.
120
A DICTIONARY OF
Hare ; In Great Britain, India, Germany (Wuttke, p. 32)
and in the Slavic countries it is a bad omen if a hare
runs across one’s path. (Elworthy, E.E., p. 31 ; Abbott,
p. 106. cf. F.L.J., 1883, p. 355 ; Ethnologie du Bengale,
p. 108.)
Among the Kirghiz (Schuyler, Vol. II, p. 29), and in
Alsace (Lambs, p. 30), if a hare runs across a man’s
path while he is on a journey, it forbodes ill luck and he
usually turns back.
It was believed at one time that hares changed their
sex every year.
In Chinese superstition the hare conceives by gazing
at the moon ; the female of the hare produces her young
from the mouth. Like the fox, the hare attains the age
of one thousand years, and becomes white when half
that period is completed. (Mayer, Chin. Read . Man.,
p. 233.)
Hare’s fat cures bad fingers. {Alsace. — Lambs, p. 30.)
In Cornwall, when a girl has loved not wisely but too
well, she haunts her deceiver in the shape of a white
hare. (Hunt, Pop. Rom., p. 377.)
Hare is considered unlucky by sailors. (Bassett, p. 279.)
The Albanians refuse to touch hare when it is killed.
(Abbott, p. 106.)
The Roman augurs considered it an ill omen if a
hare crossed their way ; they suspected they would be
robbed or come to some mischance. Vide Red Hare,
Fisherman.
Harmonia : Greek Legend. Wife of Cadmus. She was the
proud possessor of a garment and a necklace which had
the property of stirring up strife and causing bloodshed,
and bringing evil to every possessor.
Harp : Vide Teirtus’s Harp.
Harpocratos : Gr. Myth. A god of silence.
Harpy : " Snatcher ” ; in Classical mythology they were
fabulous monsters, rapacious and filthy, having the body
and face of a woman and bird’s wings and claws ; they
were supposed to act as ministers of divine vengeance.
They were malignant creatures ; they snatched up and
carried off the souls of the dead, and executed vengeance
by seizing or defiling the food of their victims. They were
three in number and were called : A ello, Ocypete and
Celaeno or Podarge.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
121
Harut : In Mohammedan superstition it is an angel in Babel
and is the Aramaic personification of mischief. (Die. Rel.
Eth., Vol. VIII, p. 352.)
Hat : If a lady dons a gentleman’s hat, it is a sign that she
wants to be kissed. ( U.S.A . — Bergen, C.S., p. 63.)
The Devil is said to wear a three-cornered hat.
(Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 138.)
If you dream you are wearing a torn and dirty hat,
you will have damage and dishonour, but if you have
one that pleases you, joy, profit, and success.
Hatchet : A hatchet is a protection against the machinations
of witches. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 354 ; Vol. II, p. 144.)
This is probably because it is made of iron (q.v.)
Hate : You will be in need if you dream you hate any one.
Hathor : Egypt. Myth. : the goddess of mirth, love and social
joy. The cow was sacred to her ; she is often represented
with a cow’s head and ears.
(ii) One of the seven genii or fairies who made their
appearance at the birth of a child and foretold its fortune,
cf. Bidhatapurusha, Fate, Barca, Norn, Sudicky.
Hatif : (Ar.). In Arab superstition it is a spirit that is
heard but not. seen. It is generally the communicator of
some intelligence in the way of advice, or direction, or
warning. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 46.)
Hatto : Archbishop of Metz. He was devoured by mice in the
mouse-tower situated in a little green island' in the midst
of the Rhine, near the town of Bingen, cf Freiherr von
Giittingen, Graaf, Widerolf, Adolf.
Haunting : Vide Flower, Miser, Usurer.
Havfrue : It is the Danish equivalent of a Nixie.
Havmand : It is the Danish name for a water-spirit and is
the male counterpart of a Havfrue. (Thiele, Danmarks
Folkesagn.)
Hay : It is lucky to see a load of hay coming towards you
(Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Bohemia, India).
Vide Knife.
Head ; A great head is a sign of foolishness. (Hazlitt, p. 308.)
The head is sacred among most peoples. (Frazer,
G.B., Vol. I, p. 362 seq.)
Headache : The tooth of a corpse cures headaches. (Hannover.
— VVUTTKE, p. 102.)
A snake’s skin worn round the head cures headaches.
(N. Lincolnshire.) .
122
A DICTIONARY OF
Headaches may be cured by tying round the head a
piece of cloth in which a corpse has been wrapped. (Lady
Wilde, p. 82.)
Vide Nest.
Head-hunting : The Dyaks of Borneo thought that the spirit
of the owner of every human head they could procure,
would serve them in the next world.
Headless Spectres : In the folklore of various people phantoms
apparently of murdered people, are met with, whose heads
are wanting ; or at times they carry their heads in their
hands or under their arms. Ghosts of animals are occasion-
ally without a head.
These spectres are said to appear mostly in Tyrol.
(See Alpenburg, Mythen and Sagen Tirols.) cf. Blemmyce,
A-Siras, Acephali.
Health : Health can be obtained by drinking the blood of a
stork.
It is unlucky to say you are very well. (Rhys, C.F.,
p. 346,) Vide Turquoise.
Hearse : It is lucky to see an empty hearse coming towards
you, but unlucky if you turn round to look at it. (Great
Britain.)
Heart : The heart of an unborn child, if carried on the person,
is sure to bring about a complete success in the thieving
profession. {Silesia.— Tettau und Temme, Volkssagen
Ostf reasserts, p. 266.)
If a person eats the heart of a bear, he will become a
tyrant. (Jews of Minsk.)
Hearth : Ghosts frequently come to the family hearth, hence
need of cleanliness there. (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 292.)
Heaven : In popular belief it is a place where there is no
sorrow, and everything is happy and peacefuk The good
and the upright go to heaven.
Hebe : Gr. Myth. The goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus
and Hera ; she was cup-bearer of the gods before Gany-
mede. She was believed to have the power of restoring
youth and beauty.
Hebigami : Jap. Myth. The serpent-god possession in Ino,
Japan.
123
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Hecate : Gr. Myth. Identified in later times with Persephone,
the goddess of the infernal regions ; she was regarded
as presiding over witchcraft and magical rites. She was
a goddess combining the characters of moon-goddess,
earth-goddess and underworld-goddess.
f< Now witchcraft celebrates
Pale Hecate's warnings." Shakespeare, Macbeth , ii, I.
Hecuba : Greek Legend. She was metamorphosed into a dog,
and wandered howling through the country, stoned by
its inhabitants.
Hedgehog : Hedgehogs foresee a coming storm.
They fasten themselves on the dugs of cows and drain
off the milk. {Great Britain, India.) In Madagascar hedge-
hogs are not eaten for fear of becoming timid. (Frazer,
Magic Art , vol. i, p. 117).
Heimdal : Teut. Myth. The warder of Asgard, who dwells
at the upper end of Bifrost. He can see a hundred leagues
by day or by night, can hear the grass or the sheep's
wool grow, and needs less sleep than a bird. He summons
the gods by blowing on the Gjallarhorn.
Heinzelmannchen : In German superstition they are elves
who work for people at night.
Heitlik : In Vancouver Island it is a snake-like scaly being
who darts lightning with his red tongue. If seen, a bit of
his tail should be cut off and preserved as an amulet.
Hejkal : " Wild man " ; it is the Bohemian name for a
Lyesovic.
Hekkenfeldt ; In popular belief this, like Blocksberg, was
the favourite meeting place of the Danish witches.
(Lehmann, A.Z., p, 112.) cf. Brocken, Blakula , Blocks-
berg.
Hekla : Mt. Helda, in Iceland, was another favourite resort
of the Danish witches. (Lehmann, A.Z., p. 112.) cf.
Brocken, Blakula , Blocksberg .
Hel, Hela : Norse Myth. Daughter of Loki, goddess of the
dead and queen of the lower world. Pier dwelling was
under one of the roots of the sacred ash-tree Yggdrasil
(q.v.)
(ii) The underworld itself was also called Hel, Niflhel.
Helenus : Greek Legend. A son of Priam and Hecuba ; he
was gifted with prophetic powers.
Helicon : The fountain which Pegasus produced by striking
with his hoofs, and whence poets were fabled to draw their
inspirations.
124 A DICTIONARY of
Helios : Gr. Myth. The sun-god, represented as driving a
four-horse chariot through the heavens.
Heliotrope : Clytie was changed into a heliotrope.
Hell : In popular belief it is a place for the wicked. It is
represented as a place of eternal torture. Satan is the
king of hell.
Hell-shoon : Vide Helskd.
Helsko : Norse Myth. The shoes or sandals that were bound
upon the dead man’s feet for his toilsome journey along
Helvegr to the other world.
Helvegr : Norse Folklore. “ Hell way.” The long, dark way
along which a dead man had to go before he reached the
other world.
Hem : If the hem of a garment turns up at the back, the
wearer is destined to get a new one soon. ( Memoirs of the
American Folklore Society, IV, p. 142 ; Abbott, p. 100.)
Hemann : It is a kind of mischievous forest-spirit of Teutonic
and Slavic folklore.
Hen : A crowing hen is unlucky. (N. Germany, Tyrol. —
Wuttke, p. 33 ; China. — Doolittle, Vol. II, p". 328;
Macedonia. — Abbott, p. 106 ; Bengal— Ethnologic du
Bengale, p. no.)
In Bodethal a black hen is thrown into the water as a
peace-offering to the Nixies. (Wuttke, p. 88, quoting
K.S., p. 426.)
“ A whistling woman and a crowing hen
Is neither good for God nor men.”
Great Britain.
If a woman dreams of a hen, she will be married to a
widower with many children. Vide Fruit, Fowl.
Hena : In Vancouver Island it is a class of supernatural
beings who can fly very rapidly ; they make a loud
whistling noise and are identified with quartz crystals.
Henta ; It is a magical picture by a village artist ; it is drawn
by order of the Nicobarese magician as a cure for diseases
and, after recovery, as a potent charm against further
attacks. (C. B. Kloss.)
Hephaestus : Gr. Myth. A god of fire, especially of volcanic
and natural fire, and of the arts, such as pottery-making
and metal-working, dependent upon fire. He W'as iden-
tified by the Romans with Vulcan.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
125
Hera : Gr. Myth. An Olympian goddess, queen of Heaven,
sister and wife of Zeus, whose power she shared. She was
the Juno of the Romans.
Herb : Herbs plucked on Ascension Day are especially good
for medicinal purposes. (Wuttke, p. 21.)
Hercules : Class. Myth, A hero, son of Zeus and Alcmene ;
he is celebrated for his strength. Juno infuriated against
him at his birth, sent two huge serpents to devour him ;
the baby who was already strong, squeezed the serpents
to death.
Hercules is noted for his twelve heroic deeds, viz.,
(i) he squeezed to death the lion of Nemea ; (ii) he des-
troyed the Hydra of Lernae ; (iii) he captured alive the
wild boar of Erymanthea ; (iv) he subjugated the deer
with the metal feet ; (v) he shot with arrows the birds
of Lake Stymphale ; (vi) he conquered the bull sent by
Neptune against Minos of Crete ; (vii) he slew Diomede,
king of Thracia, who fed his horses with human flesh ;
(viii) he was victorious over the Amazons (q.v.) ; (ix) he
cleansed the stables of Augeas by forcing the river Alphea
to flow over them ; (x) he fought with and killed Geryon,
whose troops he took ; (xi) he got the golden apples from
the garden of the Hesperides and (xii) he delivered Theseus
from the infernal regions.
Besides these, he accomplished a host of other heroic
deeds. For example, he pressed to death the giant Anteus,
son of the Earth, under his arms ; killed the brigand
Cacus, delivered Hesione from the monster which was
going to devour her, separated the mountains Calpe and
Abyla, freed Prometheus chained on Mt. Caucasus, and
lastly killed the Centaur, Nessus, who was going to ravish
his wife Deianera. This last victory indirectly caused
* him to lose his life. Vide Nessus , Deianera , Cacusy
Hesione .
Hermes : Gr. Relig. An Olympian god, son of Zeus and Maia.
His chief character was that of a herald and messenger
of the gods. Further, he was a god of science and invention,
of eloquence, cunning, trickery and theft, of treasure-
trove and luck, of youth and gymnastic exercises and he
was a conductor of the dead to Hades.
Hermes Trismegistus : “ The thrice great.” This was the name
given by the Greeks to the Egyptian god Thoth. (q.v )
Hermione : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Menelaus and Helen,
She became the wife of Neoptolemus, and later of Orestes..
A DICTIONARY OF
126
Hermotimos : In a story by Pliny, the prophetic soul of
Hermotimos went out from time to time to visit distant
regions. During one of these absences, his wife thinking
him to be dead, burnt his lifeless body on a funeral pyre.
When the poor soul came back, there was no longer a
dwelling for it to animate.
Herne the Hunter : English Legend. An ancient keeper of
Windsor Park, who is believed to walk in the forest at
midnight around an old oak, which still bears his name.
He is said to be a malevolent spirit. (Hazlitt, p. 314.)
“ Herne the hunter,
Sometime a keeper here in Windsor Forest,
Doth all the winter-time, at still midnight,
Walk round about an oak, with great ragg’d horns ;
And makes milch kine yield blood, and shakes a
chain
In a most hideous and dreadful manner.”
Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. 4.
cf. Wild Huntsman, Grand Veneur, Wodan, Frau Holle.
Herregudsbuk : “ The Lord’s goat ” ; a Norwegian field-spirit.
Hershef : Egypt. Relig. The tutelary deity of Heracleopolis ;
a local form of Osiris. Hershef was known to the Greeks
under the name of Arsaphes.
Hesione : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Laomedon, king of Troy.
She was offered to a sea-monster, but was rescued by
Hercules.
Hesperides : Gr. Myth. Daughters of Atlas. They were three
in number and were the possessors of a garden, the trees
of which bore golden apples. This garden was guarded
by a dragon with a hundred heads. Hercules killed this
dragon and thus accomplished the eleventh of his twelve
famous deeds.
Hestia : Gr. Myth. A divinity of the family hearth corres-
ponding to the Roman Vesta.
Hexe : The witches are so called in Germany.
Hiccough : If one has the hiccough it is a sign that someone
is thinking of him. (Great Britain, Bohemia, India.)
Hiccough can be cured by a cross of paper, wetted and
stuck on the forehead.
Hiccough, or in Macedonia choking over food or drink
(Abbott, p. in), is a sign that some backbiter is at work ;
the method of curing it is to guess his name. (Greece. — •
Lawson, p. 331.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
127
Hideous : Evil spirits usually take hideous human forms.
(Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 35.)
Himinbjorg : Norse Myth. Heimdal’s house in Asgard.
Hinomisaki : A kind of possession, to be found in Bitchfl
and Bingo, Japan. It is a form of Kitsune-tsuki. (q.v.)
Hinzelmannchen : An occasional name of the Kobolds in
Germany. Vide Heinzdmannchen.
Hippocrene : “ Fountain of the horse.” A fountain which
flowed by the sides of Helicon. It was consecrated to the
Muses and derived its name from Pegasus having made
the fountain flow by striking his hoofs on a rock.
Hiranyaksha : Hind. Myth. “ Golden Eye ” ; a daitya who
dragged the earth to the depths of the ocean ; he was
killed by Vishnu in the form of a boar. (Dowson, H.C.D.,
p. X2I.)
Hlidhskjalf : Norse Myth. The cloud-throne above Asgard,
whence Odin views the deeds of men, elves and giants in
the lower worlds.
Ho : “ The Crane.” Next to the F&ig (q.v.), this bird is the
most famous in Chinese legends. It reaches a fabulous
age. When 600 years old, it drinks but no longer takes
food. Human beings have repeatedly been changed into
its shape, and it constantly manifests a peculiar interest
in human affairs. (Mayer, Chin. Read. Man., p. 56.)
Hoarseness : This can be cured by wrapping round the neck,
before going to sleep, a discarded stocking belonging to
the left foot. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 82.)
Hobgoblin : Another name for Puck.
Hoder : Norse Myth. Hoder killed Balder with a dart of
mistletoe, given to him by Loki ; mistletoe was the only
thing on earth which had not taken an oath to do Balder
harm. Cf. Hotherus.
Hog : In Celebes it is believed that earthquakes are caused by
the world-supporting hog rubbing himself against a tree.
Vide Pig.
Hohenzollem : The Hohenzollern family is said to have the
apparition of the White Lady ; she is the ancestress of
this family.
Hold : Folklore. The offspring of a witch by an evil spirit
(cf. Incubi, Succubi, Cuichi Supai, TuUUu Supai), often
supposed to be an elf causing disease. They assume all
forms, sometimes butterflies, sometimes worms, etc.
128 A DICTIONARY OF
Holda : Teut. Folklore. A female spirit or sprite who leads
the Host of the Dead in the mountains and in the wild
ride through the air. She is also connected with the
fruitfulness of both earth and women, and is often called
Frau Holle. She could ride on the sea and waves, and was
feared by sailors. (Thorpe, N.M., Vol. I, p. 204.) Vide
Wild Hunt.
Holdiken : Same as Hold.
Holger : In Danish legend, a king who sits at a table, through
which his beard is growing, cf . Barbarossa ; Arthur, King ;
Tell. Vide Charlemagne, Morgaine la Faye, Papillon.
Holla’s Troop : The German equivalent of the Wild Hunt.
Holle Frau : Vide Holda.
Holle kreish : The naming ceremony of a baby girl among
the Jews of Germany is designated by this name. (For
the origin see Perxes in Gr'dtz Jubelschrift, 1887, p. 26.)
Holly : When hollies have many berries on them, it foretells
a severe winter. ( Great Britain.)
Holly must not be kept in the house after New Year’s
Day, it brings ill luck, cf Goose.
Holzweiber : Same as Buschweiber.
Honey : All kinds of precious stones cast into honey, become
more brilliant thereby, each according to its colour.
Hoof : The Devil is supposed to be able to assume a variety
of forms, but he cannot rid himself of his horns and hoofs.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 249.) Vide Cloven Hoof, Horn.
Hoop : If a hoop comes off a cask on Christmas Eve, someone
in the house will die that year. (Ragner.)
Hoopoe : The country people of Sweden consider the appear-
ance of a hoopoe as a presage of war. (Brand, Observations,
p. 701.)
Horae : Gr. Myth. The three goddesses, daughters of Zeus
and Themis, who followed the principal gods or some
heroes, and were the guardians of the gates of Heaven.
They were : Thalia , Carpo and Auxo .
Horn ; It is unlucky to keep horns in a room. [Great Britain ,
India)
The stag’s horn is believed to give warning of an evil
eve, and to be a safeguard against its malignant influences
(Spain) ; the wound from a stag’s horn never heals.
(Great Britain)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
129
“ The fear of the evil eye of a woman is very prevalent
in Spain ; but the panacea is to drink horn shavings/'
(Murray's Handbook to Spain , by Richard Ford, 3rd
Edition, 1855, p. 632.)
The tip of an ox's horn is used extensively in Africa,
in the Philippine Islands and in America in order to extract
blood and the devil along with it. (Bastian, Der Mensch ,
Vol. II, p. 117.)
The horn is a constant attribute of the Devil.
“No man means evil but the devil, and we shall
know him by his horns."
Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor , v, 2.
cf. Hoof
Horse : If a person suffering from whooping cough, asks
advice of a man riding on a piebald horse, the disease
may be cured by doing what the rider tells him to do.
A piebald horse is a sign of luck. (Great Britain.)
Horses have the power of seeing ghosts and foretelling
deaths. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 83.)
In the Harz district of Germany, a horse is often buried
alive in the belief that this would prevent other horses
from being lost from the stable. (Prohle in Zeitschrift
fur deutsche Mythologie, I, 202.)
It is lucky to dream of horses. ( Great Britain , India.)
In Norway when a thunderstorm is brewing, the
water-sprite comes in the shape of a horse. (Bassett,
p. 154, quoting Faye, Norsk Sagen , 55.)
In Bohemia it is considered lucky to see a white horse.
A Pawnee warrior's horse is slain on the grave, to be
ready for him to mount again in the spirit world, cf.
Camel , Sati, Boat.
Horseshoe : It is extremely lucky to find a horseshoe. (Great
Britain. — Elworthy, E.E.f p. 216 et seq . ; France , Spain ,
Germany. — Wuttke, p. 36 ; Hazlitt, 330 ; See Law-
rence, R. H., The Magic of the Horseshoe , Boston, 1898.)
A horseshoe fastened inside a door will preserve from
the influence of witches and the evil eye (Great Britain)
and bring luck. (Swabia, Tyrol, East Prussia , etc. —
Wuttke, p. 97 ; Elworthy, E.E., p. 216 et seq.)
Horns : Egypt. Myth. The hawk-headed god of ancient
Egypt. He is represented also as a hawk.
Hosha'na Rabba : Among the Jews it is the popular name
for the seventh day of the Feast of Booths. * . • *
I30 A DICTIONARY OF
Ho Sian Gu : Chin. Myth. The seventh and the last of the
Immortals (q.v.). She is the only woman among these
divine eight (Chin. Volksmarchen, p. 74.) She became
immortal and disappeared from mortal view. She is
sa-id to have been seen in a.d. 75® > floating- upon a, cloud,
and again some years later in the city of Canton. (Mayers,
Chin. Read. Man., p. 56.)
Host • Various superstitions are attached to the host or the
sacred wafer of the Mass, (cf . Jew. Enc., Vol. VI, p. 482.)
Hotei : A Japanese god of luck, who is represented as having
an enormous belly ; he carries a sack on his back and a
fan in his hand.
Hotherus : Legend. Son of a Swedish king ; he is said to
have killed Balder with Miming’s sword, cf. Hoder.
Houri : Moham. Myth. They are female beings who share,
with other women, the society of the blessed. They are
shining and pure and are, like all other inhabitants of
Paradise, exempt from physical suffering.
“ Femme du paradis de Mahomet.”
Petit Larousse, p. 476.
cf. Apsaras, Siren, Peri.
House : Rats leave a house before a fall. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 24.) Vide Building.
Howl : The howling of a dog denotes a speedy death in the
house. (Wuttke, p. 10.) .
The plaintive howling of a dog in the night portends
a death in some family in the vicinity of the animal.
(Great Britain, France, India, Japan. — Griffis, M.E.,
p. 468.)
Hoymann : In Oberpfalz, Wodan (q.v.) appears as a frightful
forest-spirit and is called either Hoymann or Wuzl.
(Strackerjan, Vol. II, pp. 337- 342-)
Hu : It is the Chinese name for a fox (q.v.), a beast whose
nature is highly tinged with supernatural qualities.
(Mayers, Chin. 'Read. Man., p. 61.)
Hulderfolk : Same as Wild Hunt.
Huldrick, St, ; He helps to destroy mice and other vermin.
Humming Bird : They are said to pick crocodiles’ teeth.
Hunchback : It is lucky to meet a hunchback (Great Britain,
India).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
131
The camel got the “ hunch ” because he was never
satisfied.
If you laugh at a hunchback, you will get a hump
yourself. [India, Persia .)
Hunger : Vide Bread, Sack, Pin, Clanking .
Hunmamit : Egypt. Myth. They are either birds or beings
with birds' heads.
Hurakan : In Central America he is the god of tempest,
lightning and thunder. His name has been adopted
into European languages as hurricane (Eng.), huracan
(Sp.), ouragan (Fr.), Orkan (Ger.), orkan (Dan., Swed,),
uvahan (Russ.), etc.
Hurricane : Vide Storm.
Hiitchen : A German household spirit.
Hutzelmannchen : Same as Heinzelmannchen.
Hwang Ch’uP'ing : Chin. Myth. One of the Sien or Immortals
(q.v.). (Mayers, Chin. Read . Man., p. 74.)
Hyades : A cluster of stars in the head of Taurus, supposed
by ancients to bring rain when they rose with the sun.
Hydra of Lerne : Greek Fable. A monstrous serpent with
seven heads. As soon as one head was cut off, another
grew in its place. To kill the monster it was necessary
to cut off the seven heads in one blow. Hercules (q.v.)
destroyed this monster and thus accomplished the second
of his" twelve famous deeds, cf. Dragon .
Hydrophobia : In Arabia it was believed that hydrophobia
could be cured by drinking royal blood (Hastings,
Die. Bib., Vol. IV, p. 603a); or, in England, by almost
smothering the patient between two feather beds. (Lean,
Vol. II, p. 502.)
Hyldemoer : “ Mother elder ” ; in Danish superstition it is
the spirit of the elder tree.
Hymen : Gr. Myth. God of marriage, son of Apollo.
Hyperion : Gr. Myth. A Titan, father of Helios the sun-god.
In later mythology he is identified with Apollo, god of
manly beauty.
Hypermnestra : Gr. Myth. One of the Danaides (q.v.). She
was the only one who spared her husband, Lynceus.
Hypnos : Gr. Myth. A god of slumber; son of Erebus and
Night. ,
i32
A DICTIONARY OF
1
lapetus : Class. Myth. A Titan, father of Prometheus, Atlas
and Epimetheus ; hence he was regarded as the ancestor
of mankind.
larbas : Class. Myth. King of the Getules, son of Zeus. He
wanted to marry Didon who, however, preferred death
to union with him.
Xblis : Moham. Myth. The wicked angel who, assisted by his
son, tempts mortals. He was cursed for refusing to prostrate
himself before Adam. He has command of the jinni
(q.y.), who are his agents with men. In Arabic demonology
he is the Devil incarnate and is the chief of the Shaitans.
(Lane, ASM. A,, p, 30 ; Meakin, The Moors , p. 353.)
Icarus : Gr. Myth. A son of Daedalus, who, on account of his
wax wings melting, fell and was drowned in the sea.
Ice : Witches make the water freeze. (Lehmann, A.Z., p. in.)
To dream of ice denotes that your desired is faithful
and free from choleric passions.
Idaean Mother ; An epithet of the Great Mother.
Idiocy : St. Gildas is the guardian angel of idiots.
Vide Drowning.
Idolatry : It is not restricted to savage tribes. Thus, though
the ancient Vedic religion did not recognize it, the Brah-
mans, recognized followers of the Vedic doctrines, are
great idolaters. Even in modern Christianity it is largely
practised. (See Tylor, Early History of Mankind
Chap. VI ; Primitive Culture , pp. 153 etc.)
Idomeneus ; Gr. Myth. King of Crete, grandson of Minos.
He was one of the heroes of the Trojan war.
Ifrifc : In Arabic demonology it is a powerful evil jinn.
(Lane, ASM.A., p. 27.)
Igarat bat Mahlat ; Jewish Folklore. A queen of the demons
who rides in her chariot and has a train of eighteen
myriads of demons. {Jew. Enc.t Vol. IV, p. 5x7.) Vide
Lilith .
igjgi : Babvl. Myth. A group of cruel heavenly spirits under
the god Amu. In incantations they are associated with
the Annunaki.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 133
Ignis Fatuus : A phosphorescent light seen hovering over
marshy ground. When approached, the ignis fatuus
appears to recede, and finally to vanish, which led to
the belief that it was the work of a mischievous sprite,
intentionally leading benighted travellers astray. Also
called Jack-o’-Lantern, Will-o’-the-wisp.
“ An ignis fatuus that bewitches
And leads Men into Pools and Ditches.”
Butler, Hudibras (1663).
cf. Latawiec , Khu, Irrlicht, Feu Follet.
Igumgehele : “Glutton” ; this was the name of a Zulu club.
Ihanaga-hime: Jap. Myth. “ The rock-long lady.” Daughter
of a mountain-god, sister of Konohana Sakuya-hime who
married Ninigi (q.v.)
Iha-touchi-biko : Jap. Myth. “ Rock-castle-prince.” A god who
was procreated by the gods Izanagi and Izanami (q.v.)
Ildico : A Teutonic princess by whose hand Attila was
rumoured to have been slain on the night of their marriage.
Iliad : If the fourth book of Iliad be laid under the pillow
of a patient suffering from ague, it will cure him at once.
Illness : All illnesses are caused by witches and other evil
spirits. Vide Baytree , Burial , Grave , Sickness.
Irnbubuzi ; “ Groan-maker ” ; this was the name either of a
Zulu assegai (Tylor, P.C., p. 275), or of an axe that
brought victory to the owner (Haggard, Nada the Lily,
p. 114.)
Imilozi : “ Whistlers.” The ancestral manes (q.v.) of the
Zulus, who talk in a low whistling tone.
Immortals : These are the eight divine beings of Chinese
superstition. Vide Sien, Ying , Chow , Peach .
Imp : Folklore. A kind of malignant spirit closely allied to
the goblins, elves, poltergeister, brownies and fairies.
Inada-hime: Jap. Myth. “Rice-land-lady.” A goddess,
probably the wife of a Rain-storm god.
Inari: Jap. Myth. A male Grain-deity. He is a comprehensive
answerer of prayer for a good harvest and for the restora-
tion of stolen property (Aston, Shinto, p. 17.)
Shrines of Inari are to be seen in every village, and even
in many houses, and may be recognised by two figures
of forces which stand before them.
Inca : American-Indian Myth. The sun-god of the Peruvians.
IH A DICTIONARY OF
Incas, Gold of the : Vide Treasure Lost.
Incest : The offspring of an incestuous union is a monster
(See Ethnologie du Bengale, , p. 75 , cf. Durkheim,
la Prohibition de Vinceste, Annee social., Vol. 1 ; Griffis,
Mikado’s Empire, p. 472; Frazer, Psyche’s Task*, p. 51;
A. W. Niewenhuis, Quer durch Borneo, Vol. 11, p. 99.)
Incubus : It was supposed to have been an evil spirit who
descended upon persons in their sleep with the purpose
of having carnal intercourse with women and producing
supernatural births. In the Middle Ages their existence
wag recognized by the Ecclesiastical and Civil Law.
(Dalyell, Dark. Sup., p. 599-)
“ That fende that goth a nyght,
Wymmen full oft to gyle,
Incubus is named by right :
And gvleth men other while,
Succubus is that wyght.”
(Caxton’s Chronicle, Description of Walys) .
“ The evil demons who trouble people in their sleep,
the Incubi and the Succubi.” Tylor, Early History
of Mankind, I, 7. . • • „ t T7 ...
cf. Succubus, Cuichi Supai, Tululu Supai, Khu, J noting,
Latawiec.
Indigestion : This can be cured by wearing red coral.
Indra : Hind. Myth. The Heaven-God, who, according to a
Buddhist version, pursues Rahu with his thunderbolt and
rips open his belly so that, although he can swallow the
heavenly bodies, he lets them slip again. (Bastian,
Ostlich. Asien, etc., quoted in Ethnologie du Bengale, pp.
101 seq.)
In-d : “ Fish-man.” In Corea, a sort of siren that is supposed
to inhabit the Sea of Japan. It is six or seven feet long
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Ino : Gr. Myth. A daughter of Cadmus, who, after her mad
paramour Athamas had slain one of her two sons, threw
herself and the other son Melicertes into the sea.
was changed into the sea-goddess Leucothea.
She
Insanity : Vide Madness.
Instep : If your instep is high enough to allow water to flow
under it, you are of good descent. ( Brookline , Mass. —
Bergen, C.S., p. 34.)
Trmgami : It is the name of the dog-god possession, said to be
found in Bitchu, Awa, Tosa and parts of Kyushu in Japan.
Invisibility : To become invisible go to the churchyard at
a quarter of an hour before midnight, dig out a dead body,
take the shirt off the corpse and put your own on "it
and dress yourself in that of the corpse ; but all this must
be completed before it strikes midnight. (Tyrol. — Zin-
gerle, Sitten, p. 38. See Jew. Enc., Vol. XI, p. 600.)
A stone called Alectoria (q.v.) renders the wearer
invisible; so does Agate.
The right eye of a bat carried in the waistcoat pocket,
makes a man invisible. (Bohemia. — Grohmann, p. 58.)
The blood from the genitals of an innocent boy makes
a thief invisible. (Strack, p. 22.) Vide Dog's Blood.
Io : Gr. Myth. The daughter of the river-god Inachus. She
was changed into a heifer by Hera who also set a hundred-
eyed Argus to watch over her.
Irial : In Blanche Bay it is a spirit and not a ghost.
Iris : Class. Myth. A messenger of the gods who was changed
into a rainbow by Juno.
Iron : The Oriental jinni dread iron so much that even its
very name is a charm against them ; in European folk-
lore iron drives away fairies and elves and destroys their
power ; similarly, witches are kept at bay by iron instru-
ments. (Lane, Vol. I, p. 30; Grimm, D.ML/pp. 435, 465,
1056 ; Bastian, Mensch, Vol. II, pp. 265, 287 ; Vol. Ill,
p. 204; Tylor, P.C., Vol. I, p. 127 ; Wuttke, pp. 15,
20, 122, 220 ; Jewish — Blau, p. 159 ; India, Ethnologic
du Bengale, pp. 92, 133 ; Celtic. — Rhys, Vol. I, p. 325 ;
Elworthy, E.E., p. 221 ; Bassett, p. 19.)
Irrlicht : The German name for a Will-o’-the-wisp or an
Ignis fatuus (q.v.). Yy.
A DICTIONARY OF
136
Ishtar : Assvro-Babyl. Myth. The chief goddess of the
pantheon, the Earth-Mother, goddess of the reproductive
forces of nature ; with the Assyrians, goddess of war,
pictured with bow and arrow and sometimes clothed in
flame. She is probably the same as the other goddess
worshipped under various names throughout Eastern
Asia. (See Sir J. G. Frazer, Adonis, Attis and Osiris3.)
cf. Astarte, Great Mother.
Ishum : Babyl. Myth. A deity of a local character.
Isis: Egypt. Myth. Wife and sister of Osiris (q.v.), and mother
of Horus. She was a goddess of medicine, marriage and
agriculture, and the personification of the first Egyptian
civilization. .She and her husband were the chief deities
of the Egyptian pantheon.
Ismene : Gr. Myth. Daughter of (Edipus and Jocosta, sister
of Antigone.
Israfil : Moham. Myth. The angel who brings the orders of
Allah to their proper destination and who puts the souls
into the bodies.
Itch : The itch can be cured by bathing in the river on a
Good Friday. (Panzer, Beitmge znr deut. Myth., Vol. I,
p. 258).
Ithunn : Norse Myth. She was the wife of Bragi and had
the golden apples of youth in her keeping.
Itongo : The Itongo of the Zulus is the shade of an ancestor
which comes to him to warn him of some approaching
danger. (?) (Haggard, Nada the Lily, pp. 28, 61, etc.)
Ixion : Gr. Myth. A king of the Lapithes, who was taken into
Heaven by Zeus. He was deficient in respect to Juno and
as a punishment, was thrown by Zeus into the infernal
regions, where he was condemned to be bound to a flaming
wheel and turned round and round eternally. He became
the ancestor of the Centaurs.
Izanagi and Izanami : They were two deities of the Shinto
religion, “ symbols of Divine Will and Wisdom, or the
Monad of Life and the Monad of Form, or Spirit and
Matter.” (Gaskell, D.S.L.S.M., p. 403.) With these
two deities Japanese myth begins (Aston, Shinto, pp.
21 seq.) From Izanami's vomit, faeces and urine were
bom deities who personify the elements of metal, water
and clay.
Izuna : The human-fox possession of Shinamo, in Japan, is
called by this name. Vide Ninko.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 137
J
Jacinth : This stone is dedicated to January.
Jack-o’-Lantern : Another name for the Will-o’-the-wisp or
the Ignis Fatuus (q.v.). Vide Knife, Swearing.
Jackal : The jackal is the lion’s provider ; it hunts with,
and provides the lion with food by starting prey in the
same manner as the dogs start the game.
In India a jackal is endowed with all the attributes of
the fox of European folklore. (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II,
P- 243-)
Jack Frost : Frost personified.
Jagannath, Car of : The Hindus believe that if they are run
over and crushed by the wheels of this car they will go
to heaven. ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 87).
Jahi : “ Harlot.” In the Avesta, she is a fiend of a particularly
malicious type. She embodies the spirit of whoredom
destructive to mankind.
jalpari : In the Panjab it is the name of a water-fairy, which
can be conciliated by offering a lamb and flowers on the
banks of the watercourse. ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 99.)
Vide Fruit.
Jalyogini : In the Panjab it is a spirit which occupies wells
and streams, and casts spells on women and children,
causing sickness and even death. (Rose.)
Jang Go : Chin. Myth. The second of the eight Immortals who
was originally a white mouse. {Chin. V olksmdrchen, p. 290.)
January : Vide Amethyst, Garnet, Jacinth, Frost.
Jason : Gr. Myth. Vide Golden Fleece.
Jaundice : Jaundice can be cured by drinking water in which
something yellow has been cooked. (Schiffer, Ur quell,
Vol. V, p. 290 ; Jew. Enc., Vol. V., p. 426.)
A Bohemian remedy for jaundice is as follows : Take
a living tench, tie it to your bare back and carry it about
with you for a whole day. The tench will turn yellow and
die. Then throw it into'running water, and your jaundice
will depart with it. (Grohmann, p. 230 ; Frazer, G.B a.,
Vol. Ill, p. 23.)
Jealousy : If your knee itches, you are jealous. {Boston, Mass.)
Vide Waters of Jealousy, Knee.
A DICTIONARY OF
138
Jehan-mima : A mirror belonging to Jamshid, in which the
whole world was reflected. (Beck, Key to Neupersische
Konversations — Grammatik, p. 13.)
Jhoting : In the Deccan it is the spirit of a youth dying
unmarried and leaving no relatives. It lives in trees,
ruins or burial grounds ; it personifies absent husbands,
and leads wayfarers into pools and drowns them. cf.
Incubus, Cuichi Supai, Tultilu Supai, Ignis Fatuus,
Khu, Latawiec.
Jiliiyct : In Bihar, it is a night-fiend which takes the shape of a
night-bird, and is able to suck the blood of any person
whose name it hears. (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 264.)
jinn : (PI. jinni) Muham. Myth. An order of spirits lower
than angels, said to have the power of appearing in human
and animal forms and to exercise supernatural influence
over men. They are mostly servants of Iblis.
In eating they use the left hand. In whatever form
they may appear, they will always have some animal
characteristic, such as a paw in place of a hand. (Jew.
Enc., Vol. IV, p. 520.) Vide Ankle-bone, Iron, Stumbling,
Tooth.
Jnun : The Moors call the Jinni by this name. The Jnfxn
are usually supposed to assume the form of all animals —
mostly however, frogs or toads. “ Hence it is believed
that anybody who kills or hurts one of these creatures
will have fever or die in consequence ; and if a frog is
found in a house or tent, it is politely asked to go away
or is gently removed with a shoe.” (Westermarck,
The Belief in Spirits in Morocco, p. 13.)
Jocasta : Gr. Myth. Mother and wife of QEdipus (q.v.). She,
on learning that she was her husband’s mother, com-
mitted suicide by hanging herself.
John Dory : Many superstitions are connected with this
little fish. It is called Peter’s fish from the legend that
in its mouth was found the penny with which the temple
tax was paid, and that the spots on either side of its
mouth were caused by the apostle’s thumb. (Bassett,
pp. 259 et seq.)
Jonah and the Whale : Jonah, a Hebrew prophet, was cast
overboard during a storm. He was swallowed by a whale,
and remained in its belly for three days and three nights
before he was cast out. (St. Matth. xii. 40 ; cf . Bassett,
pp. 237-239.)
Jorth : Norse Myth. The earth as a goddess or giantess.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
139
Juju : The native West African name for a fetish ; also called
Grigri.
June : Vide Agate .
Jung Li Kuan : Chin. Myth. The first of the eight Immortals.
He has the power, beside others, of flying through the
air. {Chin. Volksmarchen, p. 69.)
Juno : Class. Myth. Wife of Zeus, daughter of Saturn, and the
goddess of marriage. The Greeks called her Hera. Poets
consider her to have been a haughty, jealous and vin-
dictive woman.
Jupiter : Rom. Myth. An ancient god of the Heavens, corres-
ponding to the Greek Zeus (q.v.).
Jurojin : Jap. Myth. A god of luck, a variation of Fukurokuju.
Juventas : Class. Myth. A nymph who was turned into a
fountain by Zeus. This fountain is said to have the
property of rejuvenating anyone bathing in it.
K
Ka-di : Babyl. Myth. A patron deity of Dur-ilu, a town
situated near the Elamitic frontier.
Kagu-tsuchi: Jap. Myth. A god of fire. In giving birth to
him Izanami was burnt so that she sickened, and lay
down and died. Izanagi, in his grief and rage, slew him,
thereby generating a number of other deities, two of
whom Take-mika-tsuchi and Futsumushi were favourite
objects of worship in later times. (Aston, Shinto, p. 23).
Kali ; Hind. Myth. Devi in her malignant form is usually
designated by the name of Kali, “the black”; she is
portrayed as dripping with blood, encircled with snakes
and adorned with skulls. (For a description, see Ethnologie
du Bengale , p. 57, quoting S. C. Bose, The Hindus as
they are , p. 137.)
Kaliya : Hind. Myth. A king of the serpents who was sub-
jugated by Krishna (q.v.j.
Kama: Hind. Myth. A god of love corresponding to our
Cupid. He is represented as a beautiful youth riding a
parrot and attended by nymphs. He carries a bow of
sugar-cane with a bowstring of bees, and each arrow is
tipped with a flower, cf. Cupid, Eros.
K&ma-dhenu : Hind. Myth. The cow which grants all desires.
(Dowson, H.C.D. , p. 147.)
A DICTIONARY OF
140
Kami: The ordinary Japanese word for god. It is applied to
many other things besides deities, such as nobles, the
authorities, etc. The Kami “ are high, swift, good, rich,
living, but not infinite, omnipotent and omniscient. . .
Not only human beings, but birds, beasts, plants, trees,
seas and mountains and all other things whatsoever which
deserve to be dreaded and revered for the extraordinary
and pre-eminent powers which they possess, are called
Kami.” (Aston, Shinto, pp. 5 seq.)
The Kamis possess two essential qualities without
which it would be impossible to recognise them as deities,
viz., sentiency and super-human power. They are of
two classes : Nature-gods and Man-gods ; the first as a
result of personification, the second of deification. Almost
any Kami may send rain, bestow prosperity in trade,
avert or cure sickness, or cure sterility, and so on.
Kamu-musubi: Jap. Myth. “Divine growth.” A god of
Growth.
Kappa : A Japanese water-demon who swallows boys who go
down to swim without leave. (Conway, Demonology,
Vol. I, p. 1x2.)
Karlagatch : A little bird whose tail is always twitching.
If you keep this tail about you, it will ward off ill luck.
( Turkestan . — Schuyler, Vol. II, p. 30.)
Kasyapa : A Vedic sage to whom some hymns are attributed.
All authorities agree in assigning to him a large part in
the work of creation. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 153.)
As this word means “ tortoise,” all creatures are said
to be descendants of K&syapa.
Katie King : One of the best known examples of the modern
materialization theory. With Florence Cook of Hackney
as medium, Cook materialized (?) the spirit of Katie
King, so that she appeared in human form. For a full
description of this interesting experiment, vide Material-
ization of Katie King; Podmore, Modem Spiritualism,
Vol. II, p. 154, etc. ; and for an explanation, Lehmann,
Aberglaube und Zauberei, p. 327, etc.
Kaya-nu-hime: “ Reed-lady.” A Japanese goddess.
Kebhsnauf : Vide Qebhsnauf.
Kephu : It is the Karen wizard’s stomach going forth in the
shape of a head and entrails to devour the souls of men,
so that they die. It corresponds to our own vampire
(q.v.), (Cross, Karens, p. 312.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
141
Ker : Gr. Myth. A ghost or disembodied soul, often repre-
sented as a winged mannikin. Frequently he was an
avenging spirit, a spreader of disease and pollution.
(PI. Keres.)
Keraunia : “thunder-bitten”; an epithet of Semele.
Ketu : Hind. Myth. A monster who causes an eclipse by
devouring the moon ; he is represented as being red in
colour (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 19; Ethnologic du
Bengale, p. 102). cf. Rdhu, Maboya, Aracho.
Key : The iron keys of a synagogue placed under the pillow
of a dying child release him from death’s grasp. {Jew.
line., Vol. IV, p. 486.)
A key kept under the pillow of a sleeping child protects
him from the machinations of evil spirits and witches.
{India.) Vide Knife, Iron, Scissors.
Keyhole : This is one of the favourite entrances of a mara.
(Simrock, Mythologie, p. 545 ; Wuttke, p, 161.) cf.
Knothole.
Kha : The Arabic letter Ivha, representing khair “ good,”
is considered lucky by the Mohammedans. (Me akin,
The Moors, p. 356.) cf. Shin.
Khabish : An Indian demon who resembles the Masan (q.v.)
in his malignant nature and his fondness for burial grounds.
(Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 260.)
Khonpa: Siamese : “ Men of the Wood ’’—apes. cf. Monkey,
Banmdnush.
Khu ; (PL Khuu). Egypt. Myth. The demons. A khu is
generally a wretched, wandering, unhappy, hungry being,
a sort of outcast from the great crowd of the dead and
other spirits. The Khuu of women dying in childbirth
aim especially at causing infants to die. The Khuu of
suicides, executed criminals and shipwrecked sailors are
partly tormented and miserable. They appear suddenly
to terrify the living, preferably in the neighbourhood of
cemeteries, cause innumerable ills, violate women in lonely
places, cause animals to die, in order to satisfy their craving
for flesh.
“ A Khu is a shining translucent part of the spiritual
economy of a man which dwelt with his soul in the
SS.hu or spiritual body.” — Budge, Book of the Dead,
Vol. I, p. lxii. cf. Incubus, Succubus, Jhoting, Cuichi
Supai, Tidulu Supai, Ignis Fatuus.
A DICTIONARY OF
142
Khwan : Chin. Myth. A fish of enormous length and breadth
dwelling in that dark and vast ocean in the North, called
the Pool of Heaven. The fish sometimes changes itself
into a bird called Phang. ( Writings of Kwang-tze, Bk. I,
Pt. I, 3-)
Kincardines : This family has the apparition of the Bloody
Hand.
King : To dream of a King denotes gain, honour, and joy.
(For other superstitions, see Elworthy, E.E., p. 426,
seq. ; Sir J. G. Frazer, The Magic Art1).
Kingfisher : A kingfisher hanged by the bill shows what
quarter the wind is by converting the breast to that point
of the horizon whence the wind blows. (Brand, Obser-
vations, Vol. Ill, p. 240.)
The cry of a kingfisher, heard on the right, indicates
success in business ; if on the left, it is an evil omen
{Ethnologic du Bengale, p. 113 ; cf. Ellis, Ewe-speaking
Peoples, p. 96.)
Kirin : Corean Folklore. It has the body of a deer and the
tail of an ox. On its forehead is a single soft horn. It is
said never to tread on or injure any living being ; it is the
emblem of perfect rectitude. It is considered as the
noblest form of animal creation, and its appearance on
earth is regarded as a happy omen. (Griffis, Corea,
P- 303-)
Kirkegrim : In Danish superstition it is a Nisse attached to
a church.
Kiss : If a lady dons a gentleman’s hat, it is a sign that she
wants to be kissed. (Bergen, C.S., p. 63.)
If you dream you are kissing a pretty maid, it shows
you have some evil design. Vide Dress, Lip, Prick.
Kite : To cure rheumatic pains kill a kite on a Tuesday, cut
up the bones and tie them to the affected part ; this
brings about an immediate cure. (Crooke, P.R.I.,
Vol. II, p. 250 ; Punjab Notes and Queries, III, 81.)
The flesh of a kite gives keen eyesight.
Kite’s foot is worn in South Africa to give swiftness
to the feet. (Tylor.)
Kitsune-tsuki : The fox-possession of Japan.
Kitten : To dream of kittens denotes the birth of children.
Kla : The vital soul among the Gold Coast negroes is called
by this name. Vide Sisa.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
m
Klabautermann : In German folklore this is the name of the
guardian spirit of the ship. He dwells in the mast and
warns the sailors of any imminent danger by certain
noises. (Bassett, p. 152 et seq.)
Klausenberg : A min of a castle in Germany, said to be
haunted by a female spirit of a malicious type.
Klekanicek : In Bohemia this is a kind of spirit which gets
hold of children remaining out of doors after the Ave
Maria has been rung. (Grohmann, p. 15.)
Klekanitsa : Moravian Folklore. A spirit who stalks around
after the evening chimes and entraps children she still
finds out of doors, cf. Klekanicek, Btib&k , Bogey .
Klytemnestra : Gr. Myth. Wife of Agamemnon, symbolic of
seductive sensation nature allied to the desire mind.
(Gaskell, D.S.L.S.M., p. 435.)
Knee : If your knee itches, you are jealous. ( Boston , Mass.)
Elephants have no knees.
Knife : Crossed knives denote a quarrel. (Great Britain }
India.)
If you let a knife accidentally drop on the floor, it is
a sign that you will receive a visit from a gentleman.
(Great Britain.)
In Transylvania they will carefully see that no knife
is left lying with the sharp edge upwards so long as a
corpse remains in the house, or else the soul will be forced
to ride on the blade. (Elworthy, E.E., p. 223.)
Jack-o’-Lanterns may be driven away by throwing a
knife or a key at them. (Silesia, Mecklenburg . — Wuttke,
p. 220 ; Thorpe, Northern Mythology.)
When a gust of wind lifts the hay in the meadow, the
Breton peasant throws a knife or a fork at it to prevent
the devil from carrying off the hay. (S£billot, Coutumes
populaires de la Haute- Bretagne, pp. 302 seq.) Vide Razor ,
Sharpening, Drink.
Knock : Three loud and distinct knocks at the bed's head of
a sick person, or at the bed's head or door of any of his
relations, is an omen of his death. (Tylor, P.C. , VoL I,
P* L32.)
If on three successive nights a knocking be heard at
midnight at the door of a house, it is a sure sign of death;
(Deaney, Peasant Lore from Gaelic Ireland , pp. 55-60) ;
or, in Scotland, three knocks at regular intervals of one
or two minutes foretell the same (Gregor, p, 203.).
144
A DICTIONARY OF
To knock on the door and receive no answer is a sign
of death. ( Virginia , Englewood. — Bergen, C.S., p. 126.)
To hear a knock at the door and not to find the person
knocking is an indication that the Devil has just entered.
(Great Britain.)
Knocker : A spirit or goblin imagined to dwell in mines and
to indicate the presence of ore by knocking. (Hunt,
Pop. Rom.)
“ In the Cardigan mines, the knockers are still heard,
indicating where a rich load may be expected." —
Chambers’ Journal, II, 371-2 (1885.)
Knot : If two persons break a piece of cotton with a knot in
it, it denotes the fulfilment of a wish for the person who
gets the piece with the knot. ( Great Britain.)
Witches were said to have had the power of making a
marriage childless by tying a knot in a piece of string.
(Lehmann, A. Z., p. 111 ,r Frazer, G.R2.,Vol. I, p. 392 seq.).
If you are making a shroud, avoid knots. (Wuttke,
p. 210 ; Jew. Eric., Vol. XI, p. 601.) Vide Wart.
Knothole : Knotholes in a piece of wood used for doors, etc.,
are the favourite entrances of fairies, maras and other
nocturnal spirits. (cf. Simrock, Mythologie, p. 545 ;
Grimm, D.M. ; Thorpe, Northern Mythology ; Hartland,
Science oj Fairy Tales ; Wuttke, p. 161.)
Kobold : German Folklore. A familiar spirit haunting houses
and rendering services to the inmates, but often of a
tricky disposition.
Sometimes they are also underground spirits haunting
mines and caves.
Kobud : The Wend name for a goblin.
Kokunochi: “ Trees-father.” A Japanese god of the tree.
Koma : It is the “ shade ” of the Wanika of East Africa,
which cannot exist without food or drink. (Kraff, p. 150 ;
Tylor, P.C., vol. i (?) p. 27.)
Konshana-Sakuya-hime : “The lady who blossoms like the
flowers of the trees.” Daughter of a Japanese Mountain-
god, wife of Ninigi.
Kornmutter : “ Corn-mother ” ; it is a Teutonic field-spirit
in human form.
Komwolf : "Corn-wolf " ; the name of a German field-spirit.
Kotavi, Kotari, Kottavi : Hind. Myth. A naked woman ;
a mystical goddess ; the tutelary deity of the daityas,
mother of Barn the demon. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 159.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
145
Kra : The vital soul among the Gold Coast negroes. Another
spelling for Kla.
KravyM : Hind. Myth. “ A flesh-eater.” A Rakshasa or any
carnivorous animal. In the Vedas, Agni is in one place
called a Kravyad of terrible power. Fire is also a Kravyad
in consuming bodies on the funeral pyre. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. 160.)
Kriemhild : Niebenlungenlied. The beautiful sister of Gunther,
King of Burgundy, who becomes the wife of Siegfried.
After Siegfried’s death she marries Etzel, King of the
Huns. Later, she brings about the slaughter of her kins-
men, the Burgundians, as a revenge for Hagen's murder
of Siegfried.
Kriksy : Russian Folklore. A hag who torments children by
night.
Krishna : Hind. Myth. The eighth Avatar of Vishnu, and one
of the most widely worshipped deities of the Hindus.
He is said to have been brought up by the cowherds as
one of them. He is reputed to have dictated the Bhagvat
Gita, while Arjuna wrote it down ; he is the hero of
innumerable exploits.
His body is supposed to have been turned blue from
the poison of Kaliy&, king of the serpents, whom he
subjugated by standing on his head.
Kuda : The demon of disease of Jewish superstition, which
attacks women in childbirth. {Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p. 5x7.)
Kukuchi: A Japanese god of trees, who represents a class
(Aston, Shinto, p. 11.)
Kuni no mihashiren: Jap. Myth. “ August pillar of earth.”
A wind-god who is prayed to for good harvest.
Kuvera : Hind. Myth. God of wealth.
Kyffhauser : German Legend. Barbarossa is said to sit at
a marble table in Kyffhauser.
Kyklopes : The correct spelling for Cyclops.
L
Labartu : In ancient Babylonian superstition this was the
name given to a class of demons who were believed to
be especially dangerous to children and their mothers.
Labasu : “ One who throws down ” ; in Babylonian super-
stition this was a demon who had the same powers as
the Akhkhazu.
A DICTIONARY OF
146
Lachesis : Gr. Myth. The goddess who determines the length
of the Thread of Life.
Ladder : To walk under a ladder is not unlucky provided you
cross your first two fingers. ( Great Britain.)
Sailors say that you will be hanged if you pass under
a ladder. (Bassett, p. 433.)
To dream of going up a ladder denotes^ honour, but it
is an evil omen to dream of going down it.
Ladybird : It is unlucky to kill ladybirds {Great Britain ),
because spirits of unfortunate beings animate them.
{India),
Laertes ; Class. Myth. A king of Ithaca, father of Ulysses,
Laius : Gr. Myth. King of Thebes, father of OEdipus by whom
he was slain in an altercation.
Lakshman : Hind. Myth. Brother of Rama, with whom he
went into exile when Rama was banished from the land.
Lakshmi : Hind. Myth. Goddess of fortune, wife of Vishnu.
She is considered the type of Indian beauty and is
represented sometimes with four arms, but oftener with
two.
Lamb : If a sheep give birth to three black lambs, there will
be a death in the family. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 24.)
. Witches cannot assume the form of lambs.
At Kilkenny, Ireland, it is believed that if the first
lamb seen in the season be black, the person who sees
it will die within the year. (Lady Wilde, p. 180 ; Folk-
lore, X, p. 121.) cf. Dove, Swallow ,
Lamia : Gr. Myth. She was a lascivious evil spirit in the form
of a serpent with a woman's head and had the power of
taking out her eyes. She was a kidnapper and murderess
of children.
In modern Greek folklore the lamise are hideous
monsters, shaped as gigantic and coarsedooking women
for the most part, but with strange deformities of the
lower limbs. They may have even more than two feet ;
often one of them is of bronze, while others resemble
those of animals. Their special characteristics, apart
from their thirst for blood, are their uncleanliness, their
gluttony and their stupidity. (Lawson, p. 174.)
Lamp : To hold a lamp over a sleeping person causes death.
{Massachusetts.) AC-
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
147
A lamp should be kept burning night and day in a room
where a baby is born till the mother is well again ; this
is to keep the evil spirits away. [Great Britain , India ,
Germany. — Kuhn und Schwarz, p. 92 ; Wolf, Beitrdge ,
Vol. II, p. 303, etc. ; Wuttke, p. 195.)
The spluttering of a lamp foretells misfortune. [Greece
— Lawson, p. 328.)
Langsuir : The Malays believe that a woman dying in child-
birth becomes a langsuir and sucks the blood of the
children. [Enc. Brit., Vol. VIII, p. 6.) cf, Choorail.
Lan Tsai Ho : Chin. Myth. The fifth of the eight Immortals.
[Chin. V olksmdrchen , p. 71.)
Laocoon : Gr. Myth. A priest of Apollo at Troy, who incurred
the wrath of Athena by throwing a spear "at her wooden
horse. As he was offering a sacrifice to Poseidon, he was
destroyed with his two sons, by two huge serpents which
the goddess had caused to come out of the sea.
Laodamia : Greek Legend. Wife of Protesilaus (q.v.), who,
after the death of her husband, had him restored to life
for three hours ; when it was time for him to return to
the underworld, she accompanied him.
Lapithes : A mythical race inhabiting Thessaly. They were
celebrated for their power of subjugating horses, and
especially for their war against the Centaurs.
Lapwing : A handmaid of the Virgin Mary having purloined
one of her mistress's dresses, was changed into a lapwing
and condemned for ever to cry : Tyvit ! Tyvit ! (i.e.,
I stole it ! I stole it !)
Lapwings pick crocodiles' teeth, therefore they never
harm them.
Lar : (PI. Lares). A tutelary Roman divinity, usually a deified
ancestor or hero.
Lard : Vide Ham.
Lark : If you drink three lark's eggs on a Sunday before the
church bells ring, you will have a sweet voice.
Larva : (PL Larvae). A disembodied spirit of the Romans
and a malevolent one.
Last Buried : The person buried last in a churchyard does not
have any repose, but must guard the others. (H addon,
“ A Batch of Irish Folklore," in Folklore , Vol. IV, p. 363 ;
Lady Wilde, pp. 82, 93, 213.) An analogous belief is
current in Brittany, (le Braz, Vol. I, p, 303.)
148
A DICTIONARY OF
At Kilmurrv the last buried has to carry water to
moisten the lips of the souls in purgatory. (K. L. Payne,
“ A Burial Superstition in Countv Cork,” in Folklore ,
Vol. VIII, p. 180.)
Last Piece : Do not take the last of anything remaining on a
plate, you will be an old maid if you do so. (Great Britain ,
Germany , Bohemia.)
Whoever gets the last piece of cake from the plate at
tea-time, will be the first to marry. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 326.)
Lat : Hind. Myth. An ancient Hindu deity. (Duncan Forbes.)
Latawiec : Polish Folklore. A spirit which sometimes assumes
the form of a man, sometimes of a fascinating maiden.
He likes to beguile belated travellers from their right way.
When he wishes to gratify his lust, he visits witches in
the form of a flying fiery serpent, cf. Ignis Fatuus ,
Incubus , Succubus, Jhoting, Cuichi Supai, Tululu Supai,
Khu .
Latona : The Romans called Leto by this name.
Lazarus, St. : He protects people from leprosy.
Leander : A Grecian youth, lover of Hero, priestess of Venus.
He drowned himself in the Hellespont.
Leap Year : In Hesse and in Westphalia it is believed that
the leap year is particularly suited for important under-
takings. (Wuttke, p. 24.) Vide Twenty-ninth of February.
Leather : Leather is said to scare demons away. (Crooke,
P.R-L, Vol. II, p. 33.)
.Leda : Gr. Myth. Wife of the Spartan king Tyndareus.
According to the usual accounts, the father of Helen and
Pollux was Zeus who took the form of a swan and had
intercourse with Leda. Other accounts make both Pollux
and Castor either sons of Zeus or of Tyndareus her hus-
band. Her children were Castor and Pollux, Clytemnestra
and Helen of Troy.
Left : Left to right is a good direction. ( Greece . — Lawson,
p. 312.)
Leg : To see a man with a wooden leg coming towards you
is an omen of good luck ; to see his back or to turn round
to look at him portends ill luck. {Great Britain.)
Lemures : In Roman mythology they are the same as the
Larvae with whom the living find it hard to maintain a
permanent peace. They were the malevolent spirits of
the departed.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
149
“ Lest he behold one of these grim lemures.” —
Lytton, Last Days of Pompeii.
Leprosy : St. Lazarus the beggar protects from leprosy.
Bathing in human blood, especially the blood of a
maiden, cures leprosy. (Strack, Der Blutaberglaube, p.
12 seq.y quoting Pliny, Nat. Hist., XXVI, 1, 5,)
Richard, King of England, who was suffering from
leprosy, took counsel of a Jewish physician after all other
means had failed him. This Jew advised the King to
bathe in the blood of a new-born babe, and to eat its
warm heart raw as an infallible cure for this disease,
(Simrock, Volksbiicher , XII, pp. 31, et seq. ; Strack,
op. cit., p. 14.)
Ler : Celt. Myth. A Gaelic god of the sea.
Lethe : Class. Myth. The river of Hades, whose water, when
drunk, caused forgetfulness of the past.
Leto : Gr. Myth. The mother of Apollo and Artemis by Zeus
to whom she was married before he married Hera (Hesiod).
In a later story, she was only a mistress of Zeus and was
persecuted by Hera until her children were born at Delos.
She is called Latona by the Romans.
Letter : A moth flying towards a person, denotes a letter.
A bright spark from the burning wick of a candle
promises a letter.
If you dream of posting an unsealed letter to your
sweetheart, it means that your secrets will be exposed.
Vide Cotton , Saliva.
Leucothea : Gr. Myth. A goddess of the sea. Vide Ino .
Lichas : Gr. Myth. A servant of Hercules, who brought
him the poisoned shirt of Nessus. He was thrown from
a high mountain, and falling into the sea became a rock
which still bears his name and retains the human form.
Lichen : According to a legend this dry plant was not always
so ; it became dry as the result of the curse of a woman.
(Jalla, Leg. Vaud , p. 11.)
In the Hebrides fishermen refuse to wear clothes
dyed with the lichen found on the rocks, although it is
used in other cases. They say that it comes from the
rocks, and will go back there. (Goodrich-Freer, Outer
Isles , 1902, p. 203 ; Hazlitt, p. 575.)
Lichoradka : Slavic Folklore. Demons of fever.
T.ia • ViHa Tnwpue. PimLle. S'beak.
A DICTIONARY OF
150
Light : In the superstition of nearly every nation, savage
or civilized, it is generally admitted that light scares
spirits away ; hence spirits appear only when it is either
dark or in” a state of semi-darkness, (cf. Ethnologic dn
Bengale, p. 95 ; Skeat, Malay Magic, p. 15.)
Three lights burning in a room, is a sign of death.
(Abbott, p. 99.)
If there are three lights in a straight line in front of an
unmarried girl, she will soon be a bride. (Strackerjan,
Yol. I, p. 23.)
Women, who can blow into flame the still glowing wick
of a lamp or a candle, are virgins. (S. Germany, Silesia,
Tyrol. — Wuttke, p. 42.)
A light is seen on the grave of a very pious man. (Ph.
Redmond, “ Some Wexford Folklore,” Folklore, X. 362.)
Before the death of a near relative, lights are seen moving
before a person. No matter how hard the person tries to
approach them, these lights always keep the same distance.
{Brittany. — LE Braz, Vol. I, p. 260.)
A light going out of its own accord is an omen of
death. (Wuttke, p. 38.)
If the light is let go out on Christmas Eve, some one in
the house will die. (Ragner.)
Lightning : Witches generally cause lightning. (Lehmann,
A.Z., p. hi.)
He who carries about him a piece of wood chipped off
by lightning, will be extremely strong. ( Bohemia . —
Grohmann, p. 40.)
To insure your house against lightning, burn the Yule
Log on Christmas Eve. (Ragner.)
If a person struck by lightning be immediately removed
forty paces from the spot where the accident befell him,
he will recover. {Macedonia.— Abbott, p. 229.)
Wreaths of red and white flowers hung up on Ascension
Day over stable doors, safeguard the stables against
lightning. {Swabia. — Wuttke, p. 21.) Vide Heitlik,
Beetle.
Lilis : Adam’s wife before Eve was created. Lilis refused to
submit to Adam, and was turned out of paradise ; she
still haunts the air and is 'especially hostile to children
and new-born babes. She is usually known as Lilith.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
IS*
Lilith : Jewish Folklore. A female demon, worshipped by the
Jews during the Babylonian captivity. She was the first
wife of Adam who was compelled to repudiate her. Eve
being created for him. In modern superstition she is the
queen of demons, pictured with wings and long flowing
hair. {Jew. Enc ., Vol. IV, p. 517.)
(ii) In the Middle Ages Lilith was a famous witch,
(cf. Goethe : Faust) cf. Igarat bat Mahlat.
Lilitu ; A female form of Lilu.
Lilu : u Night.” In Babylonian superstition it was a kind of
evil spirit who plied his trade at night under cover of
darkness, cf. Ardat lili.
Limbo : (Lat. Limbus “ an edge ”). A sort of neutral land on
the confines of paradise for those who are not good enough
for heaven and not bad enough for hell, or rather, for those
who cannot (according to the church system) be admitted
into paradise, either because they have never heard the
Gospel or have never been baptized. (Dr. Brewer,
« R.H., p. 614.)
Limbo of the Moon : In the moon are treasured up the time
misspent in play, all vain efforts, all vows broken, all
counsel thrown away, all desires that lead to nothing, the
vanity of titles, flattery, great men's promises, court
services and death-bed alms. (Dr. Brewer, R.H., quoting
Orlando Furioso, XXXIV, 70.)
Limbus Fatuoram : Or the. Fool's Paradise for idiots, madmen
and others who are not responsible for their sins, but yet
have done nothing worthy of salvation. (Dr. Brewer,
R.H., p. 614.)
Limping : To limp with the left foot denotes good fortune ;
with the right, the opposite. [Bohemia)
Lin : Chin. Folklore. A supernatural creature with the body
of a deer, the tail of an ox, and a single horn. It is said
to attain the age of one thousand years and to be the noblest
form of animal creation, the emblem of perfect good.
(Mayers, Chin. Read. Man., p. 136.)
Lindwurm : “ Dragon ” ; in Tyrol it is believed that the
Lindwurm watches treasures. (Alpenburg, Mythen,
p. 377 ; cf . KAnos, Turkish Fairy Tales , p. 135 ; Lawson,
p. 281.)
Lion : The lion will not injure a royal prince.
The ancient naturalists entertained the idea that the
fiercest lion trembled at the crowing of a cock.
152
A DICTIONARY OF
The lion hates the game-cock and is jealous of it ;
some say because the cock wears a crown (its crest) ;
others, because it comes into the royal presence “ booted
and spurred.”
According to a legend the lion’s whelp is born dead and
remains so '’for three days, when the father breathes on
it and it receives life.
Arab women in North Africa give their male children
a piece of a lion’s heart to eat to make them fearless
(Frazer, G.B2., Vol. II, p. 355.) Vide Bear, Jackal.
Lion-God, Double : Egypt. Myth. They were two lions seated
back to back, supporting the horizon with the sun’s
disc, over which stands the sky ; the lion on the right is
called Sef “yesterday,” and that on the left Tuau “ to-
day.” (Budge, Book of the Dead, p. 90.)
Lip : Itching of the lips is a sign that someone will kiss you.
[Great Britain, Boston. — Bergen, C.S., p. 63.) A mole on
the lip is a sign either of gluttony or of sensuousness.
Lir Majoran : In New Guinea, he is the god of husbandry,
to whom first fruits are offered when the harvest is ripe.
(Frazer, G.B2., Vol. II, p. 463.)
Lisa’s Ring : A ring which by its lustre told Lisa whether her
lover was ill or dying. (St. John, Leg. Chr. East, p. 163.)
cf. Bahman’s Knife, etc.
Li Tia Guai : Chin. Myth. The sixth of the eight Immortals.
[Chin. Volksmdrchen, p. 71.)
Live Coal : It is a Scandinavian custom to cast live coals
after the mother as she goes to be churched, in order to
prevent the trolls from carrying her off bodily. (Tylor,
P.C., Vol. II, p. 178, quoting Hylten-Cav allies,
W dr end och Wirdarne, Vol. I, p. 191, and Atkinson,
Glossary of Cleveland Dial., p. 597.)
Lizard : The cut-off tail of a lizard lives some time after it
has been separated from the body, and if by chance it
touches the body it immediately joins itself to it and
lives and grows along with it. ( Great Britain, India,
Germany. — Strackerjan. Vol. II, p. no. cf. F.L. T„
1883, p. 356.) .
Ihe lizard is man’s special enemy, but warns him of
the approach of a serpent. Food touched by a lizard
becomes poisonous. ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 116.)
Biscobra is the name of a kind of huge lizard. According
to popular belief, its bite is fatal. (Yule & Burnell,
Hobson Jobson 2, pp. 95, 367; ibid.1, p. 765.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
lS3
When Queen Elizabeth sent a sculptured lizard to
the wife of the Prince of Orange, the princess wrote
back : “ It is the fabled virtue of the lizard to awaken
% sleepers when a serpent is creeping up to them. Your
Majesty is the lizard and the Netherlands the serpent.
Pray God they may escape the serpent's tooth."
The Mohammedans say that the lizard is a treacherous
reptile. It was a lizard which pointed out Mohammed
to his pursuers while he was hiding in a cave.
If you let a lizard run over your hand, you will be a
good needle-woman. (Alsace.— Lambs, p~ 30.) Vide
Spider .
Lien : Celt. Myth. A Cymric sun-god, son of Gwydion and
Arianrod.
Llud : Celt. Myth. A Cymric god of the sky.
Llyr : Celt. Myth. A Cymric god of the sea.
Loadstone : Loadstone produces somnambulism. It is dedi-
cated to Mercury, and in metallurgy means quicksilver.
Lock : In Cornwall death is believed to be retarded, and the
dying person kept in a state of suffering by having any
lock closed or any bolt shut in the dwelling. (Hunt,
Pop. Rom., p. 379 ; Gregor, F.L.N.E.S., p. 206 ; Con-
temporary Review , XL VIII, 108.)
The Arabs spit on a lock which cannot easily be opened.
(Doughty, Arab Des., Vol. I, p. 227.)
Locust : In South Mirzapur, when locusts threaten to eat up
the fruits of the earth, the people catch one, decorate its
head with a spot of red lead, salaam to him, and let him
go. After these civilities the locust immediately departs
along with its fellows. (Crooke, Pop. Rel. Folkl. North
India , p. 380 ; Frazer, G.B2., Vol. II, p. 424.)
Log : If logs crackle in the hearth, you will either have good
news, or friends will arrive. (Greece. — Lawson, p. 328.).
Loki : Norse Myth. A god, contriver of discord and mischief.
He is adroit and cunning and is able to transform himself
into innumerable shapes. He contrives the death of Balder,
and is overcome by Thor. Skathi fastens a venom-dripping
snake over him.
Longevity : Plenty of soup eaten slowly produces longevity.
The Chinese worship the peepul-tree for long life.
(Williams, Mid . King., Vol. II, p. 259.)
154
A DICTIONARY OF
Looking round : It is unlucky to look round at night, (Strack-
erjan, Vol. II, p. 20.)
Never look round when a ghost speaks to you ; if you
do so, the ghost will immediately break your neck,
[Bengal) Vide Beehive ,
Loom : If silver has been stolen from the house, the loom will
be heard working in the dead of the night. (Jutland).
(For other superstitions connected with the loom, vide
Wikman, Die Magie des Webens.)
Lorelei : In the Rhine district of Germany there is a belief
that this is a Nixie or water-spirit, who entices mariners
to destruction. She is represented as sitting on the Lorelei
rocks, singing enchantinglv and combing her hair with
a golden comb.
“ Ich glaube die Wellen verschlingen,
Am Ende Schiffer und Kahn ;
Und das hat mit ihrem Singen
Die Lorelei gethan.” — Heine, Lorelei.
cf. Siren , Nixie , Alrinach , Jal Pari , Bugarik.
Lost Goods : The saints Elain and Ethelbert lead to the recovery
of lost goods.
Lot’s Wife : She is said to have been turned into a pillar of
salt. Vide Wahela .
Loup-garou : In France the werewolves (q.v.) are called by this
name.
“ Le peuple des campagnes appelait loup-garou ou
lycanthrope un sorcier qui, travesti en loup, courait les
champs pendant la nuit. Sa peau etait a Fepreuve
de la balle, a moins que celle-ci n'elit ete benite dans la
chapelle de Saint-Hubert, patron des chasseurs, qui le
tireur ne port&t sur lui du trefie a quatre feuilles, etc,
Cette croyance ridicule disparait aujourd'hui de plus
en plus.” — Petit Larousse illustre, p. 569.
Lourdes : The water from the spring at Lourdes cures all
diseases, (Roman Catholic)
Louse : Lice on the bodies of children signify good luck.
(Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. in.)
A louse taken from the body of a beggar and put into
the hollow of an aching tooth instantly cures the pain.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 85.)
In Lauenburg, a cross made of thorns is tied round
a dog's neck to protect him from lice. (Bastian, Der
Mensch, Vol. II, p. 116 note.)
Living lice on a corpse indicate the death of another
member of the family. (Alsace. — Lambs, p. 33.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
ISS
Love : According to the Greeks a cestus worn by women
inspired love ; hence Aphrodite was irresistible on account
of her cestus.
It is a West Highland superstition that a beauty spot
cannot be resisted ; hence Diarmaid inspired masterless
love by his beauty spot.
An Irish superstition is that, if a lover will run a hair
of the object beloved through the fleshy part of a dead
man's leg, the person from whom the hair was taken will
go mad with love.
It is a Basque superstition that yellow hair in a man is
irresistible with women ; hence every woman who set
eyes on Ezkabi Fidel, the golden haired, fell in love with
him. (For various love potions see Ethnologie du Bengale ,
p. 144 ; Hovorka & Kronfeld, Vergleichende Volks -
medizin , Vol. II, p. 179.) Vide Salt, Cracking , Shoe ,
Urine , Perspiration , Menstruation , Blood , Flower , Frog ,
Chemise .
Lucifer : The angel who rebelled against God ; the Devil.
“ Know then that after Lucifer from heaven
. . . fell with his flaming legions through the deep
Into his place ..."
Milton, Paradise Lost , Bk. VII, 131.
Luck Penny : Such a coin kept on the person brings good
luck. It can be obtained from the Devil himself.
(On the method of obtaining one, vide Wuttke, p. 177.)
Lucina : . Gr. Myth. The goddess who presided over child-
birth, said by some to be the daughter of Jupiter and Juno ;
by others, Juno herself.
Lucky Finds : It is extremely lucky to find the following
things : horseshoes, bones, teeth, egg-shells and four-
leaved clovers ; this last should be sewn inside the lining
of one's clothes. {Silesia. — Wuttke, p. 96.)
Lii Dung Bin : Chin. Myth. The third of the eight Immortals.
{Chin. Volksmdrchen , p. 69.)
Lug, Lugh : Celt. Myth, The Gaelic sun-god who aided the
Tuatha De Danann to overthrow the Fomors. He was
the son of Diancecht and Balor.
Lugal-banda : BabyL Myth. An ancient sun-god of the violent
type. The word signifies “ mighty king." He and his
consort Nin-Sun were worshipped in Ereeh.
Lumbago : To cure lumbago tie a skein of silk round the loins
next the skin. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 505) ; or a violin string
round your waist.
A DICTIONARY OF
15*5
Lusignan : An ancient illustrious feudal family whose ances-
tress, according to a legend, was the fairy Melusine.
(Hartland, Sc. of Fairy Tales ; Petit Larousse, p. 1436.)
Lutin : The Kobolds (q.v.) of French superstition.
Lycaon : Gr. Myth. An Arcadian king who, when Zeus came
in disguise "to him, set before the god a dish of human
flesh in order to test his divinity. Zeus turned him into
a wolf ; or in other versions, struck him dead by lightning.
Lycanthropy : (Gr. lukos “ wolf ” anthropos “ man ”). In
ancient and mediaeval times wizards were supposed to
have the power of changing themselves at will into wolves,
hears, tigers and the like. This metamorphosis could also
be brought about by means of donning certain belts, or
by rubbing the body with certain ointments, or merely
by incantations. (Cf. O’Donnell, Werewolves ; S. Baring
Gould, Book of Werewolves ; Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie ;
Leubuscher, Wdkmdlfe, Die. Rel. Ethics, s.v. “Lycan-
thropy.”)
The werewolf not only existed in the imagination of our
forefathers, but is firmly believed in in many countries to
the present day. The Bereserker of the Scandinavians,
the Loup-garous of the French, the Fox of the Chinese
and the Japanese, the Wahrwolfe of the Teutonic races,
the Were-Tigers of the Indians and the Malays are all
variations of our own werewolves. In reality it is a kind
of insanity in which the patient imagines himself to be
a wolf or some other wild animal. Vide Werewolves,
Loup-garou.
“ Persons accused of the crime of Lycanthropy.”—
Scott, Demonology (1830).
Lycus : Gr. Myth. A king of Thebes, husband of Dirce, who
rescued Antiope from Epopeus.
Lyderhorn : A mountain near Bergen (Norway) ; this was
supposed to have been a popular resort of the Norwegian
witches. (Lehmann, A.Z., p. 112.) cf. Blocksberg, Hecla,
Brocken, etc.
Lyesovic : " Wood king.” In Russian folklore this is a forest-
spirit. He looks very much like a man, but his hairy body
betrays him. He has long hair and a green beard ; he has
only one eye and lacks eyebrows ; he can change his size
at will and often transforms himself into animals.
Lyesyj : Same as Lyesovic.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 157
Lynceus : Gr. Myth. Husband of Hypermnestra, one of the
Argonauts. He had such wonderfully sharp eyes, that he
could see through a millstone, or look right down into the
depth of the earth, and discover the treasures that were
there.
M
Mabisalira : Among the Nyanjas of Nyassaland in Africa this
is a professional witch-finder, generally a woman.
Maboya : Among the Caribs it is a demon, hater of all light,
who seeks to devour the sun and the moon. cf. Rdhu ,
Metu, Aracho.
Macbeth : Macbeth could not be killed by anyone who was born
of a woman. (Shakespeare, Macbeth , viii.)
Machus : Gr. Myth. A god of the rivers, father of Io.
Madness : It is lucky to live in the same house with a madman.
(Gt. Britain , India , Germany , Greece : Lawson, p. 397).
Among the Zulus madmen are supposed to be entered into
by some departed spirit. (Callaway, Rel. of the Amazulu ,
p. 147 ; Tylor, P.C. Vol. II, p. 118 : Rider Haggard,
Nada the Lily , p. 58) ; the same belief is prevalent in
Polynesia (Ellis, Polynesian Researches , Vol. I, pp. 363,
395 ; Vol. II, pp. 193, 274 ; Tylor, P.C. Vol. II, p. 117), in
East Africa and among the Barongosetc. (Casalis, Basutos ,
p. 247 ; Burton, Cent. Africa , Vol. II, pp. 320, 354).
If you are bitten by a mad dog, take the dog's liver,
burn it to charcoal, powder it and eat it with bread and
butter. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 81).
If women step on egg-shells, they will go mad. ( Japan ,
Griffis, M.E. p. 469).
Dogs will go mad if they eat of the afterbirth of mares.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49).
If hair be set on fire, you will go mad. (Japan, Griffis,
M.E. p. 468). : ‘
The saints Dymphna and Lillian cure madness.
Maenad : Class. Relig. A nymph attendant upon Dionysus.
Maelstrom : A whirlpool off the west coast of Norway. It
was formerly believed that a spirit dwelt in it and sucked
in all vessels which ventured near his dwelling.
A DICTIONARY OF
158
Magnetic Islands ; In several books there is mention of a
magnetic island in some unknown sea where ships are
wrecked, (cf. Lane, Thousand and one Nights , Vol. I, pp.
161, 217, Vol. Ill, p. 78; Heinrich von Waldeck, Herzog
Ernst’s von Bayern Erhdhung etc., p. 65 ; Ludlow, Popular
Epics of Middle Ages , p. 221 ; Sir John Maundeville,
Voiage and Travaile)
Magog : Vide Gog.
Magpie ; In Lancashire it is an omen of ill luck to see two
magpies flying together.
When magpies chatter, it denotes that you will see
strangers.
To see one magpie is unlucky, to see two denotes merri-
ment, or a marriage, to see three, a successful journey,
four, good news, five, company.
It is unlucky to see magpies (Bassett, p. 275).
Magpies chattering on the house-top predict the coming
of a friend and relatives from abroad (. Macedonia , Abbott,
p. no).
Magpies shot during the Twelve Nights and burnt to
powder, prevent fever. (Kuhn und Schwartz, p. 412).
If a magpie be shot in March and nailed on inside the
cow-shed, it will stop the flies coming in. (Strackerjan,
' Vol. I, p. 67).
Among the Kirghiz, if a magpie be seen on the west it
means a journey ; if on the east, guests ; if on the north,
bad luck; if on the south, some remarkable event.
(Schuyler, Vol, II, p. 30).
Among the Chinese, a magpie is a bird of good omen.
(Doolittle, Vol. II, p. 327). It is unlucky to kill a
magpie ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 1x2 ; Abbott, p. 110.)
“ One for sorrow, two for mirth,
Three for a wedding, four for a birth.”
Lincolnshire Proverb
To have a magpie perch on your house shows stability
of the house. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 16 ; F.L.R., I, 8).
Alexander Ross tells us the battle between
the Italians and the French, in which the
former were overthrown, in the reign of
Charles VIII, was foretold by a skirmish
between magpies and jackdaws.
Arcana Microcosmi (Appendix, 219).
Vide Pierides.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
159
Mahomet's Coffin : This is said to be suspended in mid-air
between heaven and earth.
Mahu : The fiend prince that urges to theft.
Maia : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Atlas, mother of Mercury.
The eldest and most beautiful of the Pleiades,
Rom. Relig. An ancient goddess, consort of Vulcan.
Maid : To dream of obtaining a maid denotes joy, but weeping
and sorrow if you dream you are taking her away by force.
Maize : Plant maize when your stomach is full, and see to it
that your dibble is thick ; this will swell the ear of the
maize. (Skeat, MM., p. 217 ; Frazer, G.B 2., Vol. I, p. 35).
Mala’ikat ar-rahma : Muham. Myth. The Angels of com-
passion. Vide Azrdil.
Mala’ikat al-adhab : Muham. Myth. The angels of punish-
ments.
Malat : An ancient Hindu deity. (Duncan Forbes).
Malik : Muham. Myth. A terrible angel who guards over hell.
He is assisted by Sbires (q.v.), of whom there are eighteen.
Mailt y nos : Welsh Folk-lore, A particular kind of night-
fiend.
Mamdo : In India it is the ghost of a Mohammedan ; it is of an
extremely malevolent type. (Ethnologie du Bengale,
p. 100.) "
Mamony : “Wild women.” The Dive zeny (q.v.) are called
by this name in Poland.
Man : A person weighs more fasting than after a meal.
The Jews maintained that man has three natures : body,
soul and spirit. Diogenes Laertes calls the three natures :
body, phren and thumos ; and the Romans called them :
manes, anima and umbra. (Dr. Brewer, R.H.)
Mandrake : A kind of plant. It was believed to cry and groan
like a child when pulled out by the roots. The fruit, when
eaten by women, was supposed to promote conception.
It is still the subject of many superstitions. In Persia it
is said to cure barrenness. (Ploss, Das Weil, Vol. I, p. 535)
“I, last night, lay all alone
On the ground to hear the mandrake groan/"
Ben Jonson, Masque of Queens.
. Whoever hears the mandrake cry must die* (Hazlitt;
Pi 385)-
i6o
A DICTIONARY OF
Manes : Rom. Myth. The deified souls of the departed
ancestors as beneficent spirits; opposed to Larvae and
Lemures. They were gods of the lower world.
“ Let eternal fame
Attend thy manes and preserve thy name.”
Pope, Thebais (1703).
Mania : St. Vitus cures dancing mania.
Manito, Manitu : Among the Algonquin Indians it is one of
the powers or spirits which dominate the forces of nature
Mantalini : A charlatan who professed to restore the dead to
life.
Mantle ; A boy brought to King Arthur's court a mantle which
no one could wear who was unfaithful in love, false in
domestic life, or treacherous to the king. If any such
attempted to put it on, it puckered up, or hung slouchingly,
or tumbled to pieces. (Percy: Reliques). The same boy
brought the Brawn's Head.
cf. FlorimeVs Girdle, Water of Jealousy , Canaces Mirror ,
Grotto of Efhesus.
Manucodiata : A bird resembling the swallow found in the
Molucca Islands. It has no feet, and though its body is
no bigger than that of a swallow, the span of its wings is
equal to that of an eagle. These birds never approach the
earth, but the female lays her eggs on the back of the male,
and hatches them in her own breast. They live on the dew
of heaven, and eat neither animal nor vegetable food.
“ In these Hands (Moluccas) onlie is found the bird,
which the Portingales call Passaros de Sol, that is Foule of
the Sunne, the Italians call it Mann codiatas, and the
Latinists Paradiseas, by us called Paradice birdes, for
ye beauty of their feathers which passe al other birds :
these birds are never seene alive, but being dead they are
found vpon the Hand; they flie, as it is said, alwaies
into the Sunne, and keepe themselves continually in the
ayre ... for they have neither feet nor wings, but onely
head and bodie, and the most part tayle" — (Lxnschoten,
Biscours of Voyages into ye Easte and Weste Indies , 35 ;
Yule & Burnell, Glossary 1 ( Hobson Jobson 1), p 72.)
“ Olha ca pelos mares do Oriente
As infinitas ilhas espalhadas
Aqui as aureas aves, que nao decern
. Nunca a terra, e so mortas aparecem.”
Camoes, Os Lusiadas , x,. 132
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
161
Englished by Burton :
“ Here see o’er oriental seas bespread
Infinite island-groups and alwhere strewed
® o . * » o ©
Here dwell the golden fowls, whose home is air,
And never earthward save in death may fare.”
cf. Chakora ,
Mara : The nightmare-ghosts of Slavic and Teutonic mythology.
They are the souls of living beings, mostly women, which
leave their bodies by night, and visit sleepers for the pur-
pose of tormenting them by sitting astride their chests.
They usually make entrance either through a key-hole
or through a knot-hole. The soles of their feet are flat and
their eyebrows meet. They torment not only human beings,
but also domestic animals, draining them of milk and
sucking their blood.
“ The incubus which we call the mare.”
Bacon, Sylva (1626) *
“ The ten chief Sins came,
Maras, mighty ones, Angels of evil.”
E. Arnold, Light of Asia, VI, xix*
Mardanu-’l-ghaib : Same as Rij alu-l-ghaib?
Marduk : Babyl. Myth. Originally the god of the city of
Babylon, but later he became the official head of the
pantheon. He is distinctly a solar god.* His consort was
Sarpanitum.
Margyr ; ‘ ' Sea-monster * * ; the name of a water-spirit in Iceland.
Marichi Deva : Buddhist Myth. “ The personification of
light, offspring of Brahma.” (ElTEL, Handbook of
Chinese Buddhism ).
Marid : They are the most powerful demons of Arabic
demonology. (Lane, ASM, A., p. 27).
Marriage : The English superstition is :
“ Change your name and not the letter ;
You change for worse and not for better.”
“ Marry in Lent,
Live to repent.”
New York.
A marriage is foretold by the blossoming of an apple
tree in autumn. (Lower Saxony , Wuttke, p. 35). Vide
Bed , Bridal clothes , Chemise , Cradle , Magpie , Field , True ,
Wreath, Garter , Last piece, Myrtle , Needle, Pear tree, Plough ,
Purple, Wedding , Stones sepulchral.
1 62
A DICTIONARY OF
Mars : Gr. Myth. The god of War, in which character he is
also regarded as a protector of the fields against hostile
aliens, and as a leader of military colonists. The Romans
considered him to be the father of Romulus.
Marsyas : Gr. Myth. A young Phrygian flute-player who
defied Apollo in this art. The Muses declared the god to
be the victor, and, as a punishment, Marsyas was tied to a
tree and was flayed alive.
Martin : It is unlucky to kill a martin (Gt. Britain ).
Martins forewarn miseries and unnatural wars by
fighting against one another. (Alexander Ross, Arcana
Microcosmi , p. 219.)
Martin, St. : Vide Small-pox , Sudden Death .
Martu : Babyl. Myth, Another name for Adad.
Marut : They were the storm winds of Vedic mythology, who
tear asunder the forest kings, and make the rocks asunder,
and assume the form of new-born babes.
Marut : Like Harut, it was the Armaic personification of
rebellion.
Masan : In the Himalayas this term is used to designate
cemetery spectres. It is the ghost of a child, or a low-caste
man, probably an oilman. (Crooke, P.i?., Vol. I, p. 261 ;
Ethnologic du Bengale , p. 100).
Masubi : Shinto Relig. The god of growth. (W. G. Aston,
Shinto , p. 172).
Match : To light three cigarettes (or in fact, three of any-
thing) from the same match is considered unlucky ; one
of the persons will die a sudden death. ( Gt . Britain).
Materialization : In modern spiritualism it means the act of
taking or assuming a material form.
Matmate : In the East Indies these are the spirits of ancestors,
which are worshipped as guardian spirits or household
gods. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. II, p. 463).
Mathew, Father : He was well-known as the Apostle of Tem-
perance.
Maug Moulach : The house of Tulloch Gorins in Scotland used
to be haunted by Maug Moulach, or ‘ ‘ the girl with the hairy
hand/' (Stewart, p. 144; Dal yell. Dark Sup.f p. 124).
May : Vide Emerald.
Mayflower : Mayflowers must not be brought inside a house,
lest there be a death in the family, [Gt. Britain)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
163
Maypole : Imparts fertilizing influence over both women and
cattle as well as vegetation. (Elworthy, E.E., p. 62 ;
Ethnologic du Bengale, p. 84. See Sir J. G. Frazer,
Golden Bough, Vol. II, pp. 449-456).
May Queen : It is superstitiously believed that the girl chosen
to be the May Queen will not live another year. ( Gt .
Britain).
“ If you are waking call me early, call me early
mother dear,
For I would see the sun rise upon the glad New
Year,
It is the last New Year that I shall ever see,
Then you may lay me low i’ the mould and think
no more of me.”
Tennyson, May Queen
Maziqim : It is the Jewish equivalent of a domovoy or a
brownie.
Meal : In some parts of Austria and Germany, when a storm
is raging the people open a window and throw out a hand-
ful of meal, saying to the wind, ** There, that’s for you,
stop ! ” (Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 127, note).
Measurement : If a corpse cannot immediately be disposed of,
the best course is to measure it carefully, and then no
malignant Bhut can occupy it. (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II,
p. 76 ; Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 69.) Vide Shadow.
Meat : Warts can be cured by rubbing them with a piece of
raw meat and then burying the meat.
Cholera may be detected by throwing up a piece of raw
meat in the air.
Medea : Class. Myth. A female magician who brought back to
life Acson, her father-in-law, by means of her magic arts.
According to some legends she was in the habit of boiling
old people in a large cauldron, under the pretence of making
them young again. When her husband abandoned her,
she revenged herself by killing her children.
Medicine Bottle : If empty medicine bottles be sold, you will
want them filled again for yourself. (Lean, Vol. II,
p. 182; F.L.R., i).
Medus : Gr. Myth. Son of Aegeus and step-brother of Theseus.
A DICTIONARY OF
164
Medusa : Gr. Myth. The only one of the Gorgons who was
mortal. She was a beautiful maiden noted for her splendid
hair. The goddess Minerva being enraged with her,
changed her hair into snakes, and endowed her with the
terrible power of changing anyone into stone who looked
at her. She was slain by Perseus who succeeded in cutting
off her head while looking at its reflection in the shield.
From her blood sprang Chrysaor and Pegasus.
Megaera : Gr. Myth. One of the three Furies.
Meleager : Gr. Myth. Son of Althea, Queen of Calydon. He
was one of the Argonauts, and he slew the wild boar of
Calydon. After the Calydonian hunt, he slew his uncles.
Althea, enraged at this, thrust the brand into the fire, as
it was foretold at his birth that his life would last no
longer than this brand, and thus killed him. Meleager
was in love with Atlanta. Vide Amber.
Meleagrides : Gr. Myth. The sisters of Meleager, who were
turned into guinea-hens.
Melicertes : Gr. Myth. Son of Ino. After he was thrown into
the sea by his mother, he became the sea-god Palaemon.
Melon : In Turkestan the “ throat of a melon must be cut
before it is fit to eat. (Because the Qor’an says, it is un-
lawful to eat an animal bef ore its throat is cut) . (Schuyler,
Vol. II, p. 29)
Melons planted on Ascension Day grow well ( North
Germany, Wuttke, p. 21).
Melpomene : Gr. Myth. The Muse of Tragedy.
M£lusine : According to a French legend Melusine, a fairy, was
the ancestress of many noble families. She appears occas-
sionally to give them warning of some approaching catas-
trophe. (Hartland, Science of Fairy Tales).
“ ... fee que les romans de chevalerie et les legendes
du Poitou representent comme l’aieule et la protectrice
de la maison de Lusignan.” — Petit Larousse illustre,
p. 1456. cf. White Lady, Death Warnings.
Meluzina : Bohemian Folk-lore. The spirit of the winds.
Memory : If you want to commit anything to memory, put the
book containing the passage under the pillow before going
to sleep. (Silesia, Hesse, Tyrol — Wuttke, p. 186 ; Den-
mark, Andersen, Fairy Tales (Little Tuk).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
165
Menstruation : According to the Talmud, if a woman at the
beginning of her period passes between two men, she there-
by kills one of them ; if she passes between them towards
the end of her period, she only causes them to quarrel
violently. (J. Beigel, Die Medizin der Talmudisten,
Leipzig and Berlin, 1885, p. 1593).
In Syria, a woman who has her courses may neither salt
nor pickle, for the people think that whatever she salted or
pickled would not keep. (Frazer, G.B., Vol III, p. 225,
quoting Eijub Abela in Zeitschrift des deutschen
Palastina-V ereins, VII (1885), p. in).
The Guayquiris of Orinoco think that, when a woman
has her period, everything upon which she steps will die,
and that if a man treads on the place where she has passed,
his legs will immediately swell up. (Frazer, ib.)
In Brunswick people think that if a menstruous woman
assists at the killing of a pig, the pork will putrefy. (R.
Andree, Braunschweiger Volkskunde, p. 291)5
In the Greek island of Calymnos, it is believed that the
presence of a menstruous woman in a boat will raise
storms. (W. R. Paton in Folklore, I (1890), p. 524).
According to Pliny, the touch of a menstruous woman
turned wine to vinegar, blighted crops, killed seedlings,
blunted swords and razors, killed bees, brought down the
fruit from trees, caused mares to miscarry, and so forth.
(Pliny, Nat. Hist., VII, 64s?., XXVIII, 77 sq.)
Menstrual blood is believed to be a powerful means of
inspiring love. (Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 444) ; cf.
Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 79 ; Jolly, Medicin, (Grundr.
d. Indo-Ar. Phil.), p. 50 • Van Waters Miriam, The
Adolescent Girl among Primitive Peoples, p. 23 ; L. K. A. K.
Iver, The Cochin Tribes and Castes, Vol I, p. 203. Vide
Barrenness.
Mephistopheles : It is the name by which the Devil is called in
Goethe’s Faust and in Marlow’s Life and Death of Dr.
Faustus.
Mer : Babyl. Myth. Another name for Adad.
Mercury : Rom. Myth, Son of Zeus, messenger of the Gods,
and himself a god of commerce, gain and eloquence. His
worship was introduced into Rome from Southern Italy
as early as 495 B.c.
A DICTIONARY OF
166
mx ...
}■
Mermaid : An imaginary species of beings supposed to inhabit
the sea ; they have the head and trunk of a woman, the
lower limbs being replaced by the tail of a fish, and are
often confused with the Sirens of Classical mythology.
(Lehmann, A.Z., p. 15; Baring-Gould, Cur. Myths., p.
508; Conway, Demonol., Vol. II, p. 218 ; Thorpe, N.M.,
Vol. II, pp. 27, 28, 173 ; Bassett, p. 171 et seq.)
If a fisherman meets a mermaid, he will catch no fish
that day. (Thorpe, op. cit., p. 76)4
Merman : The male counterpart of a mermaid.
Merrow : Irish Lore. A mermaid.
Meteor : Falling stars, eclipses, comets and other signs in the
heavens portend the death or fall of princes. (Lehmann).
Midas : Gr. Myth. A king of Phrygia, who obtained from
Bacchus the power of changing everything he touched into
gold. Even his food was changed into this metal the
moment he touched it. To cure him of this marvellous
and fearful power, the god made him bathe in the river
Pactolus. For having preferred the flute of Pan to Apollo’s
lyre, Apollo made donkey’s ears grow on him.
Midgard Serpent : Norse Myth. A sea monster, the offspring
of Loki.
Midnight : Ghosts and other spirits wander about at this hour.
“ In the dead vast and middle of the night,
... a figure like your father
. . appears before them. ...”
Shakespeare, Hamlet, I, 2.
Midzuha no me : In Japan the Water was made a female
deity under this name.
Milford Haven : Fairies were supposed to attend the market
of Milford Haven as late as the 19th Century.
Milk : Fairies are very fond of milk and often try to gratify
their desires on “ unsained ” or unchurched women.
(Gregor, Folk-lore of N.E. Scot., pp. 5, 60, 62).
All liquids spilled on the ground are supposed to go to
the use of fairies. (Stewart, p. 124 ; Dalyell, Dark Sup.,
P- 193)-
It is considered a very good omen in India to see milk
immediately on waking up in the morning.
Milk Tooth : Milk teeth should be swallowed, if nice, white
teeth are desired. (U.S.A., Knortz, p. 99). Vide Tooth.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
167
Mill : In Slavic and Teutonic (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 142)
folk-lore, mills are believed to be the haunts of all kinds of
evil spirits.
Flour brought from a mill, especially one owned by a
Turk, must be fumigated, in order to prevent the Devil
from entering into it. (St. Clair and Brophy, Bulgaria,
p. 46 ; Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 146).
Mimas : Class. Myth. A giant who, warring against the gods,
was killed by lightning.
Mimer : Norse Legend. A smith who reared Siegfried and
incited him to slay Fafnir.
(ii) Another spelling for Mimir.
Mimi : In the “ Ring of the Nibelungen ” he is the smith who
aids Siegfried to win the ring, and is slain by the hero for
his treachery.
Miming : Teut. Myth. A forest spirit, the guardian of a power-
ful sword.
Mimir : Norse Myth. A giant whose abode is a spring flowing
from the root of the world-ash Yggdrasil. Drinking the
waters of the spring, he knows all the past and the future.
This was the water -spirit, into whose waters Odin had put
his eye in pledge, in order to win wisdom.
Min : Egypt. Myth. A god of procreation, chief deity of
Panopolis.
Minerva : Class. Myth. Daughter of Zeus, goddess of sagacity
and arts. She presided over all artistic works and herself
excelled in the arts of embroidery, etc. Vide Arachne.
Minjika, Minjika (f.) : Hindu Myth. Two beings who sprang
from the seed of Rudra, which was spilt upon a mountain.
They are to be worshipped by those who desire the welfare
of children. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 209).
Minos : Gr. Myth. Son of Zeus and Europa, king of Crete.
After his death he was made a judge of the dead in Hades ;
the other two judges were Eacus and Rhadamantos.
Vide Talos.
Minotaur : Gr. Myth. A monster, half man and half bull, the
offspring of Pasiphae (q.v.). It was confined in the laby-
rinth in Crete, where it devoured the periodical tribute of
seven youths and seven maidens till it was slain by Theseus,
(q.v.) who volunteered to be one of the seven.
Miolnir : Norse Myth. The name of Thor’s hammer.
1 68 A DICTIONARY OF
Mirror : To break a mirror denotes seven years of poverty
(. Pinsk , Jew . Em ., Vol. IX, p. 601 ; U.S.A., Knortz, p. 37 ;
Hazlitt, p. 225), or bad luck (Gt. Britain, Brand, Observa-
tions, Vol. Ill, p. 169 ; Gregor, p. 203).
If one looks at himself after eleven o’clock at night, he
will see the reflection of the Devil’s face beside his own.
(Mosel, Tyrol — W uttke, p. 132 ; Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 262 ; Gt. Britain, India).
A woman should not look at herself in the mirror for at
least six weeks after she was brought to childbed, lest
ghostly faces peer at her. (Silesia — W uttke, p. 207).
If a mirror be broken, it is a warning that someone in the
house will lose a friend ere long ; or is prophetic that a
person will never marry ; or if married, will lose the person
wedded.
A mirror falling off the wall without any apparent cause
is an omen of an impending disaster or of a death in the
family, (N. & C. Germany, Tyrol W uttke, p. 38;
Gt. Britain).
If a mirror be held before a sleeping man during a hail
or thunder-storm, the storm will cease. (Leland, Etruscan
Roman Remains , p. 93). Vide Alasnams Mirror, Ts’in
King, Picture, Stuttering.
Miser : The spirits of misers must return to earth.
The name of a miser should not be uttered the first thing
in the morning ; if you do so, you will have nothing to eat
that day. (Bengal — Tagore, Mashi and other Stories,
p. 92, Note I)/
Mistletoe : It is no sin to kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas.
Mistletoe was the only thing on earth which had not
taken an oath to do Balder harm. (See Frazer, The
Magic Art , passim.)
Mithaoxta : Pers. Myth. A spirit which represented " false
speech/'
Mithras : Pers. Myth. A god of the light of the middle zone,
a defender of truth, helper of Ahura-Mazda in his struggles
with the powers of darkness.
Mitra : Vedic Myth. A celestial deity, probably the same as
the Persian Mithras, who early sank to relative unimpor-
tance.
Mnemosyne: Gr. Myth. A Titaness, daughter of Uranus,
goddess of memory. She was the mother of the Muses by
Zeus.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
169
Modu : Hind. Myth. The prince of all devils that take posses-
sion of human beings. (Dr. Brewer, R.H.).
Mden : Danish Folk-lore. The king of the elves is supposed
to reside at Mden.
cf. Bornholm.
Mole : Moles are blind ; hence the expression, “ blind as a
mole.” (Gt. Britain).
If a mole digs up earth in a house there will be a death
therein. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 24),
Mole-holes are the doors of ghosts. ( Silesia — W uttke,
p. 224).
Mole-mark : A mole on the lip is a sign of gluttony and talkative-
ness ; on the neck it promises wealth ; on the nose it indi-
cates that the person will be a great traveller ; on the thigh
it forebodes poverty and sorrow ; on the throat, health and
wealth, on the wrist, ingenuity.
A mole-mark on the arm-pits promises wealth and
honour ; on the ankle bespeaks modesty in men, courage in
women ; on the right breast it is a sign of honesty, on the
left forebodes poverty ; on the chin promises wealth ; on
the right ear, respect, on the left, dishonour ; on the centre
of the forehead it bespeaks treachery, sullenness and untidi-
ness; on the right temple it forebodes you will enjoy the
friendship of the great, on the left it forebodes distress ;
on the right foot, wisdom, on the left foot, rashness ; on
the right side of the heart denotes virtue, on the left wicked-
ness ; on the knee of a man it denotes he will have a rich
wife, on the knee of a woman, she may expect a large
family. (See Ethnologic du Bengale, pp. 128, 129 ; Lean,
Collectanea , VoL II, p. 312 ; Hazlitt, Faiths and Folklore $
pp. 413 $eq. ; Brand, Observations , Vol. Ill, p. 254).
“ Moles on the neck,
Money by the peck.”
Ohio (Knortz, p. 126)
Mole’s Paw : Mole's paws are used in Gt. Britain to keep off
cramp.
A mole's paw cures toothache ( F.L.R.} I).
Monday : Monday is an unlucky day.
Servant girls appointed on a Monday break many
things. (. Rhineland , Westphalia — W uttke, p. 104). Vide
Sunday, Wednesday.
A DICTIONARY OF
170
Money : The Old Prussians furnished their dead with money
to spend on his weary journey to the spirit world ; in
Germany, France, China (false paper money) and Ireland
this custom is kept up to the present day.
The Russian Jews (Jew. Enc Vol. IX, p. 598) and the
Indians consider it unlucky to dream of money.
When taking money out of a purse leave at least a coin
or two in it; money attracts money. ( Grodno — Jew .
Enc., Vol. IX, p. 601).
If they are compelled to give away the last piece of
money they possess, the Bohemians say : “ Ty muy mity
posledecku , privez mi jich na kolecku .'' (You my dear last
one, bring me back a cartload like you). (Grohmann,
p. 227).
If you meet a frog, it denotes that you are about to re-
ceive some money .
To see blood is lucky ; it denotes money. (Gt. Britain ).
It is unlucky to dream of money. (Gt Britain , India,
U.S. A. — Knortz, p. 43). Vide Blood, Bubble , Cattle ,
Execution , Frog, Gold , Ant, Arm , Moon, Palm , Swallow ,
Blindness .
Money Spider : To find small spiders of a golden colour, Arenea
scenica , commonly called “ money spider,” on one's
clothes is lucky — forebodes that you will be in receipt of
some money soon. (Gt. Britain.)
Monkey : Monkeys are believed by various nations to be the
forefathers of the human race. (cf. Tylor, P.C. , Vol. I,
p. 339 etc. ; Darwin, Origin of Species.)
In Guinea monkeys found near a grave are believed to be
animated by the spirits of the dead. (Wilson, pp. 210,
2x8 ; Tylor, P.C., Vol II, p. 7. cf. Skeat, Malay Magic,
pp. 184 seq.).
Monkeys' paws are used as vermifuge amulets in For-
mosa. cf. Banmdnush , Orang-utan.
Monster : The offspring of incestuous unions are monsters,
(cf. Griffis, M.E., p. 472).
Moon : Among the Mbocobis of South America the moon is the
man and the sun his wife. (D’Orbigny). An Ottawa story
describes the sun and the moon as brother and sister.
(Schoolcraft). Among the Egyptians Osiris and Isis were
the sun and the moon, brother and sister, husband and
wife ; among the Peruvians it was the same as with the
Egyptians. (Prescott). In England and in France, the
sun is the man (Eng. the sun , m., Fr. le soleil) and the moon
is the woman (Eng. moon, i, Fr. la lune) ; in Germany, it
is the reverse, (der Mond m., die Sonne , fh
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
171
When the “ mone lies sain ” on her back or when her
“ horns ” are pointed towards the zenith, be warned in
time, for foul weather is at hand.
Foul weather may be expected when the “ new moon
appears with the old one in her arms.”
To see the new moon for the first time on the right hand
side direct before you is lucky ; but to see it on the left
hand, or to turn round and see it behind you is the contrary.
To sew under a waxing moon is beneficent for the crop.
Turn your money over when you see the new moon for
the first time ; it brings luck. (Gt. Britain)
If pregnant women look at the moon, the child will be
“ moon-struck.” ( Silesia , Oberpfalz — Wuttke, p. 193).
The bacon of swine killed in a waning moon will waste
much in cooking.
If you see the new moon over the right shoulder, take
three steps backwards and repeat the following :
“ New moon, true moon, true and bright,
If I have a lover let me dream of him to-night.
If I am to marry far, let me hear a bird cry ;
If I am to marry near, let me hear a cow low ;
If I am never to marry, let me hear a hammer
knock.”* — Tennessee .
and one of these three sounds is always heard. (Bergen,
C.S., p. 117). Vide Full-moon .
Moonlight : He who sews by moonlight, sews his burial clothes.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 47).
Moon, Spots on the : In Indian superstition the spots on the
moon represent Krishna milking a cow under a spreading
tree ; in England, " the man in the moon.”
Moonstone : It has the virtue of making trees fruitful and of
curing epilepsy.
Moonstone brings luck to the owner. (U.S.A.—
W ilkie Collins, Moonstone) .
It contains in it an image of the moon, representing the
increase and decrease every month.
Moosburg : One of Freiherr von Giittingen’s castles.
Moosweiber : Same as Buschweiber.
Morana : Bohemian Folk-lore. The goddess of death. She
has been identified with the Greek Hecate. (Grohmann,
p. 6).
Moravaya panna : “ Black woman ” ; in Slavic countries this
is a frequent disguise of the demon of pestilence.
A DICTIONARY OF
172
Morgaine la Faye : “ Morgaine the fairy.” It is believed to the
present day that she retains Holger the Dane entranced in
Avalon in company with her brother, King Arthur, and
other renowned knights.
Morpheus : Class. Myth. God of dreams, son of Night and Day.
Morta : Rom. Myth. One of the goddesses of fate. She is
identical with the Greek Atropos.
Moss : To cure barrenness, boil some moss growing on the
Temple walls and drink the water. (Jews of Palestine
— Schxffer, XJr quell, II, 235).
Moth : A moth flying round you presages the arrival of a letter.
(Gt. Britain).
Mother Carey’s Chicken : Vide Petrel, Albatross.
Mountain-climbing : The tongue of an eagle sewn in the collar
of one’s coat makes mountain climbing easier. (Alpenburg,
p. 384 ; Wuttke, p. 164).
Mountain Mother : Same as Great Mother.
Mourning : Mourning clothes must not be exchanged for
ordinary ones on a Sunday, or someone else will die ; they
must neither be discarded without sufficient reason.
Mouse : Many mice signify war. ( Alsace — Lambs, p. 30).
According to some legends mice are the souls of mur-
dered people.
If a mouse gnaws our clothes during the night, or nibbles
a hole in a bag of flour (Greece — Lawson, p. 328), it is
indicative of some impending evil, perhaps even death.
If food which a mouse has nibbled be eaten, it will give
sore throat.
A fried mouse is a specific for small-pox.
St. Gertrude and St. Huldrick ward off mice.
Suspending a live mouse by the tail before the fire and
roasting it expels mice from the house. (Lean, Vol. II,
p. 418).
In Bohemia the peasants, though they kill field mice and
grey mice without scruple, always spare white mice. If
a white mouse died, the luck of the house would be gone,
and the grey mice would multiply in the house. (Groh-
mann, p. 60 ; Frazer, G.B., Vol. II, p. 426).
Arab superstition regards a particular species of mouse
as inhabited by the souls of an extinct Israelitish tribe.
(Bertholet, p. 39), Vide Field Mouse.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
173
Mouth : If anything falls in the corpse’s mouth, the whole
family will die. (Franken- — Wuttke, p. 212).
Mowing : If a sexton mows the churchyard, rain is sure to
come. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 47).
Mucus : The nasal mucus is considered by many primitive
races to be a powerful amulet. (Frazer, Golden Bough).
Mule : Vide Foam.
Mulkari : The Mulkari of the North-West Central Queensland
is the “ supernatural power who makes everything the
blacks cannot otherwise account for ; he is a good, bene-
ficent person, and never kills anyone.” He is described
as “a benevolent, omnipresent, supernatural being; any-
thing incomprehensible.” (Lang, Magic and Rel., p. 40,
quoting Mr. Roth).
Mumbo Jumbo : An African bogey, hideous and malignant,
the terror of women and children. (Dr. Brewer, R.H.
P- 737)-
Mummy : Mummies must not be carried in a ship or some mis-
fortune would happen ; the same applies to corpses.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 47). Vide Corpse.
Munda: Hindu. Myth. "Bald”; the name of a demon slain
by Durga.
Munkir and Nekir : Moham. Myth. Two angels of the Arabs,
who examine all the dead and torture the wicked in their
graves. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 26).
Mura : The Muras of Bohemian folk-lore are identical with the
Polish Upior and our own Vampire (q.v ).
Murder : The spirits of murdered people must wander about on
earth so long as they would have done had they been alive
(East Prussia) ; likewise those of people dying an acci-
dental death. (Tyrol, Karnthen — Wuttke, p. 217).
It is a bad omen to see a murder, or wild animals chased
by dogs, orto pass a dead body lying on the ground. (Tibet,
Waddell, p. 135).
Muscatel : Muscatels kept in one’s pocket is a cure for boils.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 85).
A DICTIONARY OF
174
Muses : Class. Myth. Daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne.
They were nine in number and presided over the arts ; they
dwelt with Apollo on Mt. Parnassus. They were as follows:
Clio— the Muse of history.
Euterpe — the Muse of music. -
Thalia — the Muse of comedy.
Melpomene— the Muse of tragedy
Terpsichore — the Muse of dancing.
Erato — the Muse of elegiac poetry.
Polymnia— the Muse of lyric poetry.
Urania — the Muse of astronomy, and lastly
Calliope — the Muse of eloquence and heroic poetry
Music : Persons bitten by the tarantula are supposed to be
cured by music.
If you imagine you can hear music, it is a sure sign that
you are in the presence of some well-disposed spirit {India).
Amphion is said to have built the walls of Thebes
by the music of his lyre. Hirem and the capital of
King Arthur’s kingdom were also built to divine
music. The city of Jericho was destroyed by music.
(Josh. VI, 20).
If you dream of hearing music, you will receive accept-
able news.
Mussel : A fountain near the waterless sea, which purges from
transgression. So called because it is contained in a
hollow stone like a mussel-shell. Those who test it enter
the water, and, if they are true men, it rises till it covers
their heads three times. (Dr. Brewer, R.H., p. 760).
Musubi : A Japanese god of growth, who represents an abstract
quality. (Aston, Shinto, p. xi), and is said to be a formid-
able rival of Amaterasu.
Mut : Egypt. Myth. Consort of Amon-Ra, the sun, mother of
Chunsu, the moon. She is often represented as lionheaded.
Mutilation : Among various tribes, as for example the Indians
of Brazil, the Australians, the Chinese, the Japanese, etc.,
it is believed that the spirit or ghost of a man bears the
same mutilation as the body of the man it originally
inhabited. (Tylor, P.C., Vol. I, p. 407; Enc. Rel. Eth.
Art. Demon — Japanese. Cf. Frazer, Golden Bough, I, 204;
id., On Certain Burial Customs as illustrative of the Soul,
in Joum. Anthrop. Inst., Vol. XV, p. 66 ; Durkheim,
Elementary Forms of Religious Life, pp. 242 seq. ; Ethno-
logie du Bengale, p. 90 ; Tylor, Early History, Vol. I,
p. 358, id., P.C., Vol. II, p. 230 ; CROOKEi P R- 1-, Vol. I,
p. 280).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
175
Myrrha : Class. Myth. Mother of Adonis. She was afterwards
changed into a myrrh tree.
Myrtle : A girl engaged to be married must not plant myrtles
or the wedding willbe broken off. {East Prussia- — Wttttttf
p.204).
N
Nachzehrer : The Vampire (q.v.) is called by this name in some
parts of Germany. (Wuttke, p. 221).
Nagas : “ Snakes ” ; the local spirits of the Hindus.
Nagual : The Nagual of Central America is a kind of guardian
spirit in animal form. ° ^ *
Naiad : Class. Myth. Certain kinds of nymphs.
Nail : A white spot on the thumb nail promises a present * on
the index finger it denotes a friend ; on the middle finger,
a foe; on the ring finger, a letter or a sweetheart* on
the little finger, a journey to go. In England' this
is indicated by touching the fingers in turn and repeating
the following doggerel verse :
“ A friend, a foe,
Money to come, a journey to go.”
The number of white spots on a person's nails determine
the number of years he has to live. ( Alsace — Lambs, p. 20).
If the nails of a person suffering from fever be cut * and
the parings stuck on with wax on a neighbour's door before
sunrise, the fever will be transferred to the neighbour
(Pliny, Nat. Hist., XXVIII, 86). 6
The Russian peasants place the parings of a dead person's
nails along with the body in the grave, in the belief that
the same has to climb a steep hill before reaching Paradise.
(Ralston, Songs of the Russian People, 109 ; cf. Frazer]
Golden Bough , Vol. I, p. 368$#.).
In America white spots on the nail are considered lucky.
In East Anglia spots on the thumb nail are more certain
of fulfilment than the others. According to the local
doggerel:
" Spots on the fingers are sure to linger.
Spots on the thumb are sure to come."
A girl who bites her finger-nails will bring forth children
with great difficulty. (Japan — Griffis, M.E. , p, 469).
Finger and toe nails should be carefully destroyed, other-
wise other people finding them may perform magical
operations. (Gt. Britain , France , Germany , India, etc.).
176
A DICTIONARY OF
If while cutting nails, a piece springs into the fire, the
owner will meet with a speedy death ; the consequences
may however be averted by throwing some salt in the fire.
Nails should be trimmed just before starting on a journey,
and never at night. ( Japan — Griffis, M.E., p. 467).
If babies’ nails be cut before they are a year old, they
will not grow.
If you cut your nails on a Monday, you will have luck all
the week ; but if on a Friday, unluck [Gt Britain), or it will
bring luck and help to keep away toothaches. ( Germany —
Wuttke, pp. 12, 17).
If you throw away nail-clippings in the fire either you
yourself or your house will catch fire. ( Japan — Chamber-
lain, T.J , Ger. tr. p. 18). Vide European.
Nail Iron : An iron coffin nail, if accidentally found, is used for
various magical purposes, such as for curing diseases,
punishing thieves, catching game, etc.
Name : If two children belonging to the same family bear the
same name, one of them is sure to die. ( Pomerania —
Wuttke, p. 197).
The real names of persons are often concealed, for
fear that others ascertaining it, may perform various
magical operations. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 406 sq.) ;
Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 5).
The Finns and Esthonian peasants are very loth to
mention wild beasts by their proper names, for they believe
that either they will have poor sport, or that the creatures
will do them much harm. (Castren, Vorlesungen, p. 201;
Boecler-Kreutzwald, p. 120).
The Kamtchatkans abstain from mentioning the names
of bears, whales and wolves, for they say that these can
understand human language. (Steller, p. 276).
Bengali women do not mention snakes and thieves by their
proper names. ( N.I.N.Q. , 1, 15; EthnologieduBengale p. 83).
Various other animals and things are called by names
different to their own, generally through fear of their
vengeance. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, pp. 451-469).
In Brittany, the name of a deceased is not uttered.
(le Braz, Vol. I, p. 287). Vide Child.
Namtar : Babyl. Myth. They were plague-demons.
Nana : Egypt. Myth. Another name for Tashmit.
Nandini : Hindu Myth. The cow of plenty belonging to the
sage Vasishtha, said to have been bom of Surabhi. The
cow of plenty that was produced at the churning of the
. ocean. (Dowson, H.C.D., p 218).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
177
Nanna : Norse Myth. The daughter of King Gevarus of Nor-
way. Balder is said to have been in love with her.
Narcissus : A flower. According to a Greek fable Narcissus
i fell in love with his own reflection in a fountain, and,
having pined away because he could not kiss it, was
| changed into a flower which bears his name.
| Navel : After the first human being was made, the Evil One
;i spat in his stomach, but Allah hastened to tear out the
j contaminated flesh, and thus the navel originated. (Tur-
kish, Kunos. T.F.T., p. 2. For various superstitions see
Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. II, pp. 277 et seq.).
Nebo : Assyro-Babyl. Myth. A god of Borsippa which is
supposed to be older than Babylon itself. He is the repre-
L sentative of wisdom, and to him is the art of writing
ascribed, even by the priests of Babylon.
| Neck : If the neck of anyone grows stiff, or the muscles of the
j head are twisted awry, it is a portent that the person will
i die by the neck. (Hazlitt, p. 430).
) Needle : You are inviting trouble if you utter the word
| “needle” soon after you wake up in the morning. (Bengal).
Death is presaged by the finding of a needle threaded
with bla,ck cotton, on the way. ( Silesia — Wuttke, p. 38).
If while sewing, the needle breaks in three pieces, it is
a sign of a wedding in the near future. (Gt. Britain,
Germany, Bohemia.)
Needles should not be lent to others, lest they “ prick ”
; your friendship. (Tyrol — Wuttke, p. 135).
It is unlucky to pick up a needle in the street. (Gt.
| Britain). Cf. Pin.
• If a lizard runs over your hand you will be handy with
the needle. (Alsace — Lambs, p. 30).
Negro : To dream of negroes portends illness or death. (U.S.A.
]' — Knortz, p. 21).
i To see a black man the first thing on waking up in the
morning is an omen of luck (Gt. Britain).
j Nek : Another name for the Nokke,
* Nekhebit : Egypt. Myth. Nekhebit and Uatchit were taken
by Horus in the form of two serpents, that they might
consume the still-remaining rebels by fire. (Wiedemann,
Leg. of the Winged Sun-Disk).
Nekir : Yid e Munkir;
A DICTIONARY OF
178
Nekkan : In Sweden it is the musical spirit of the water. He
assumes various shapes and governs the sea. Sometimes
he appears as a young man on the surface of the sea, and is
especially severe to young maidens who have not treated
their lovers well ; hence you should always carry a piece of
iron (q.v.) or steel as a protection against him. (Thorpe,
N.M., Vo. II, p. 39; Bassett, p. 96).
Nekogami : The cat-god possession of Japan.
Nemesis : Gr. Myth. An ancient goddess who was the personi-
fication of retributive justice.
Nemodilky : Bohemian Folklore. Beautiful maidens with
coal-black hair falling loosely over their snow-white
throats. They are dressed negligently in red, and go about
at night enticing young men, whom they drown and are
united to them. (Grohmann, p. 11.)
Neoptolemus : Gr. Myth. The valiant son of Achilles and
Deidamia, who, after the death of his father, joined his
forces against Trov. After the fall of Troy, he married
Andromache, wife of Hector. He was one of the heroes
in the wooden horse, and the husband of Hermione.
He was also called Pyrrhus.
Nephthys : Egypt. Myth. A goddess, daughter of Seb and
Nut, sister and wife of Set, who, with Isis, was especially
associated with the ritual of the dead.
Neptune : Rom. Myth. Son of Saturn, brother of Jupiter and
Pluto, husband of Amphitrite. He was a god of the
water, especially of the sea, whose worship was early
introduced in Rome. He is usually represented as bearing
a trident.
Nereid : Certain kinds of nymphs. Class. Myth. A sea-nymph.
The Nereids, about fifty or hundred in number, were the
daughters of Nereus and Doris, and attendants upon
Poseidon. They are represented as riding sea-horses,
and are either of entire human form or with the tail of
a fish. cf. Mermaid.
Nereus : Class. Myth. A god of the sea, husband of Doris,
father of the Nereids. ,
Nergal : Assyro-Babyl. Myth. One of the great gods. He is
the god of the Midsummer sun, the sun in its burning
aspect, also the god of war and pestilence. In Baby-
lonian mythology, he is a sun-god who was worshipped
in Cutah. In Assyria he was also a god of chase. Vide
Aralu.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
179
Nerthus : Teut. Myth. A goddess whose chief seat of worship
was the island of Zeeland. According to Tacitus, her
character was that of a deity of peace and fertility.
Nesnas : Arab. Folklore. It resembles half a human being ;
it has half a head, half a body, one arm and one leg,
and has the power of human 'speech. It is found in
Hadram&t and El-Yemen. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 45.)
Nessus : Gr. Myth. A Centaur shot with a poisoned arrow by
Hercules for trying to outrage the hero’s wife, Deianira.
She, by the advice of the dying Centaur, steeped her
husband’s shirt in his blood as a love charm ; when he
put it on, this shirt poisoned Hercules’ flesh and caused
such agony that he killed himself.
Nest : If a bird finds a person’s hair, and builds its nest with
it, the person will suffer from headache. ( Germany . —
Birlinger, Aus Schwaben, p. 509 ; Panzer, Beitrdge,
Vol. I, p. 258 ; Wolf, Beitrdge, Vol. I, p. 224 ; Hazlitt,
p. 296.) Among the gipsies of Eastern Europe the same
superstition prevails. (Frazer, G.B., Vol. I, p. 378,
quoting Wlislocki, Z igeuner, p. 81.) Sometimes it is
thought that the person whose hair is thus used will have
an eruption on the head. {Tyrol. — Zingerle, p. 181.)
Net : Hurons and Athabascan Indians married their nets to
young girls to obtain luck in fishing. (Bassett, p. 411.)
News, Good : Good news is foretold by a flea-bite. (W uttke,
p. 34.) Vide Music, Nose.
New Year : It is customary in China to cover the outside of
doors and windows on this day with paper scrolls containing
some mottoes, quotations from ancient literature, etc.,
as suggestive of material prosperity. [Enc. Rel. Eth.,
Vol. VIII, p. 260.)
In Bengal people put on new clothes on this day, in
the belief that they will not be in want for the rest of
the year, and nothing is lent or sold on credit.
To meet a dark man immediately on getting up on
New Year’s mom is a prognostication of luck for the
whole year. {Great Britain.)
In Tyrol and Silesia the peasantry believe to the present
day that numerous phantoms such as , wraiths, headless
spirits, etc., can be seen on New Year’s Eve. ,
i8o
A DICTIONARY OF
If a person goes at midnight on New Year’s Eve with
a candle in each hand in front of a mirror and calls a
dead man three times loudly by his name, the face of
the deceased will be reflected on the glass. (General. —
cf. WuTTKE, p. 224.)
“ He who is bom on New Year’s morn.
Will have his own way as sure as you’re bom.”
Bergen, Cur. Sup., p. 21.
Vide Tear, Star.
Neznama pani : In and around the district of Holitz, Death
personified is designated by this name.
Nibelungs : Ger. Myth. The children of the mist ; a race of
dwarfs or demoniac beings, and the original possessors of
the famous hoard and ring won by Siegfried (q.v.).
Nidaba : Babyl. Myth. A goddess of the agricultural type.
Nidhogg : Scand. Myth. A dragon or adder that gnaws the
roots of the fabled ash-tree Yggdrasil.
Niflheim : Scand. Myth. A region of cold and darkness into
which one of the roots of the ash-tree Yggdrasil descends.
Niflhel : Norse Myth. A name of the underworld.
Night : In Ireland, people bom at night are said to have the
power of seeing ghosts. (Lady Wilde, p. 204.)
St. Christopher protects people from night alarms.
Nightingale : Aedon, after the death of her son, was changed
into a nightingale by Zeus. cf. Philomele.
Nightmare : It is believed to be caused by a female demon
called Mara (q.v.) sitting astride the sleeper’s chest.
In Indian superstition nightmares are caused by the
soul being tortured in its peregrinations during sleep.
Nightmares can be kept off by keeping a coal-rake in
the bedroom. ( Yorkshire .)
Nigi-haya-hi : Jap. Myth. “ Gentle, swift sun.” A sun-god
who came down from heaven in a heavenly rock-boat,
and became chieftain of one of the tribes subdued by
Jimmu Tenno.
Nikasha : Hind. Myth, (i) A female demon, mother of Ravana.
(ii) The mother of the carnivorous imps called Pisitdsanas.
Nin-agid-Khadu : Babyl. Myth. A goddess, probably of a
local nature.
Nin-dara : Babyl. Myth. A deity of a local character.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
181
Nin-gursu : Babyl. Myth. A solar deity, the patron deity of
Sipurla.
Ninib : Assyro-Babyl. Myth. A solar deity, one of the chief
gods of the pantheon. Primarily he was the god of the
spring and the morning sun, and patron of agriculture.
In Babylonian mythology he is essentially an agricul-
tural deity who presides over the fields, and who is appealed
to not merely to ensure fertility, but to protect the
boundaries of the fields against unlawful invasion.
Ninigi : A grandson of the Japanese sun-goddess. Ninigi was
despatched to earth, and descended on a mountain in
Kiushiu. Here he married a mountain-god’s daughter,
named Konohana-sakuya-hime (q.v.), rejecting as too
ugly her elder sister Ihanaga-hime. The latter uttered a
curse, whereupon human beings became short-lived.
Ninko : The human-fox possession of Izumo, Japan. Vide
Izuna.
Nin-mar : Babyl. Myth. An ancient goddess whose seat of
worship lay in or near the Persian Gulf.
Nin-sun : Babyl. Myth. “ The destructive lady ” ; consort of
Lugal-Banda.
Niobe : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Tantalus, wife of Amphion.
Her pride in her fourteen children led her to compare
herself to Leto who had only two, Apollo and Diana.
To punish her Apollo and Artemis (Diana) slew all her
children ; she herself was changed into a stone by Zeus,
in which form she continued to mourn her loss. She is
the personification of motherly love.
Niskai : Celt. Folklore. The water-nymphs are so called.
Nisse : Scand. Myth. A class of household spirits. In Danish
superstition they are of the dwarf family. They are
described as small as infants but have faces like old men ;
they wear a grey dress and a pointed red cap. They are
domestic spirits, and are often favourably disposed towards
the members of the household. (Thiele, Danmarks
Folkesagn.) cf. Brownie, Domovoy, Gardsvor,
Nithhogg : Same as Nidhogg.
Nixie : Teut. Myth. A class of water-spirits. The female
nixies are noted for their beautiful singing by which they
allured human beings into their toils. They sometimes
intermarried with mankind. The male Nix was occasionally
armed with a hook, with which he dragged people down
under the water, cf. Lorelei, Siren, Bugarik, Jalpari,
Alnnach.
1 82
A DICTIONARY OF
Njord, Njorth : Teut. Myth. One of the Vanirs. He was
the hostage given by the Vanir to the vEsir after their
contest. He was protector of seafarers, having power
over the winds.
Noatun : Norse Myth. Njord’s dwelling in Asgard.
Nocnitz : Russian Folklore. " Night-hags ” ; they torment
children by tickling them or sucking their blood, or
disturb their sleep by their mere touch.
Noise : Demons are said to be scared by noises. (Crooke,
P.R.I., Yol. I, p. 167 ; cf. H. L. Stratfield, Ranchi,
Journ. vis. Soc. Bengal, LXXII, pt. Ill (Cal. 1904), p. 36 ;
Frazer, The Scapegoat, p. 139 ; Doolittle, The Chinese,
Vol. II, p. 265 ; Skeat, Malay Magic, p. 11 ; Marsden,
History of Sumatra, p. 157 ; Bassett, p. 33.)
Nokke : In Danish superstition he is a river-spirit who some-
times appears in the form of a horse, sometimes as an
old man ; oftener as a golden-haired boy who plays the
harp most melodiously. (Thiele, Danmarks Folkesagn;
Thorpe, N.M., Vol.'ll, p. 20; Grimm, Teut. Myth.,
Vol. II. p. 488.)
They love to dance in the moonlight, and, like mermaids,
foretell the future and are possessed of protean wisdom.
(Thorpe, op. cit., Vol. Ill, p. 87.)
Nona : Rom. Myth. One of the goddesses of Fate. She is
identical with the Greek Clotho.
Noorele : A being with three unbegotten sons, who lives up
among the clouds. He is all-powerful and of a benevolent
nature. He made the earth, trees, water, etc. He receives
the souls (Jtadko— shades, umbrae) of the natives, who
join him in the skies and will never die. ( Australian
natives. — Lang, Magic and Religion, p. 60.)
Norn : Norse and Teut. Myth. One of the demi-goddesses
or giantesses who preside over and determine the fates
of both men and gods. In Norse mythology they are
usually spinners, weaving the fabric of Fate. They
were three in number, and named : Urth, Verthandi
and Skidd, cf. Bidhatdpurusha, Fates, Parca, Hathor,
Sudicky.
Nose : In India all ghosts are said to speak with a strong
nasal accent. (Day, Folktales of Bengal, p. 199 ; Crooke,
P.R.I., Vol. I, p. 237 ; cf. Skeat, Malay Magic, p. 31).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
183
Itching of the nose prophesies corporal chastisement.
{Macedonia. — Abbott, p. 113) ; or in Scotland, a letter.
(Campbell, Sup. Scot. Highl., p. 258); or in America
it denotes that the person is loved. [Memoirs of the Amer.
Folk Lore Soc., Vol. IV, p. 63.)
An irritation of the nose denotes, if inside, vexation ;
if outside, pleasant news. [Great Britain, India.)
Three drops of blood dropping from a lover’s nose, is
an indication of the end of love. ( Rhineland , Westphalia. —
Wuttke, p. 42) ; or the death of a parent. (Gregor,
p. 205.)
The bleeding of the nose can be stopped by tying a
piece of wool round the little finger of the left hand
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 82) ; or by wearing a red ribbon
or a skein of scarlet silk round the neck (Lean, Vol. II,
p. 486.) ; or by sniffing in cold water, or in grave cases,
a big iron key is also placed on the back of the patient’s
neck [India, Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 140 ; cf. Hovorka,
Vergleichende Volksmedizin, Vol. II, p. 79).
If your nose itches, it is a sign that
“ You’ll be mad,
See a stranger,
Kiss a fool,
Or be in danger.”
[Prince Edward Island. — Bergen, C.S., p. 140.)
Nosegay : It is unlucky to dream of making or gathering
nosegays ; our best hopes will come to naught. (Knortz,
pp. 2i, 138.)
November : Vide Topaz.
Nox : Rom. Myth. Goddess of night • same as the Greek
Nyx. Vide Charon.
Nu : Egypt. Myth. The double lion-god of Egypt. (Budge,
Book of the Dead, p. 166.)
Nuada : Celt. Myth." A king of the Tuatha De Danann. He
lost his hand in the battle in which the Firbolgs were
overthrown, and replaced it by one of silver. Bress was
chosen as king in his place, but was deposed and Nuada
set on the throne again. He was killed by Balor. Probably
he was an early war-god.
Nudd : Celt. Myth. A Cymric god of the sky. Same as Llud.
1 84 A DICTIONARY OF
Num : A Samoyed water-god. (Conway, Demonology, Vol. 1.
P- 2I3-)
Nun : To dream of becoming a nun denotes confinement,
disappointment in love or a rival.
Nurjehan’s Bracelet : It gave warning of poison by a tremulous
motion of the stones, which increased as the poison
approached nearer and nearer.
Nusku :■ Assyr. Myth. A deity symbolizing the element of fire.
Same as Girru.
Nut : Egypt. Myth. The heavens personified as a goddess,
consort of Seb, and mother of Osiris, Isis, Nephthys,
Set, Anubis, Shu and Tefnut. A winged picture of her
is usually to be found painted on the outside of coffins.
She is the feminine principle of Nu, that is, the watery
mass out of which all the gods were evolved ; she is the
goddess of the sky. (Budge, Book of the Dead, p. 4.)
Nymph : Myth. One of the numerous classes of semi-divine
beings, imagined as beautiful maidens inhabiting the sea,
rivers, fountains, hills, woods, or trees.
“ By night they appear, and, like all the nymphs
of ancient times, amuse themselves with graceful
dances.” (Tozer, Highl. Turkey)
Vide Obtaining, Nymph.
Nyx : Gr. Myth. An ancient goddess, a personification of
night. She is the daughter of Chaos, and mother of Day
and Night ; she is identified with the Roman Nox.
o
Oak : Tent. Folklore. The oak is said to have sprung from the
mouth of a king slain in battle ; it is the abode of departed
souls (See Frazer, Spirits of the Corn and of the Wild)
Oak Speaking : Gr. Myth. A great oak tree at Dodona, which
not only had human speech, but was oracular.
Oannes : Babyl. Myth. Under this form, Nebo (q.v.) is the
god who instructs mankind in various arts, including
writing. (Cory, Ancient Fragments, p. 57.)
Oar : In Icelandic belief if an oarsman leaves a little of the
handle of the oar uncovered, the devil will use it (Bassett,
p. 89, quoting F.L.R., 1879.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
185
Oats t
“ Who in Janiver sows oats.
Gets gold and groats ;
Who sows in May,
Gets little that way/’
(Lean, Vol. I, p. 913.)
Oberon : Scand. Myth. King of the elves.
Obla Bibi : The Hindus frequently invoke the help of Obla
Bibi in cases of cholera.
Obsession : The hostile action of the Devil or an evil spirit
besetting anyone.
“ These classes belong rather to obsession than to
possession (q.v.), the spirits not actually inhabiting
the bodies, but hanging or hovering about them.0
Tylor, Primitive Culture , II, 113.
Obtaining Nymphs : The Hindu Tantra gives a detailed account
of how a companion nymph may be acquired by a man,
by means of worshipping her and repeating her name in
a cemetery. (Ward, Hindus , Vol. II, p. 151 ; Tylor,
P.C., Vol. II, p. 173 ; Ethnologie du Bengale , p. Toi.)
Oceanxd : Gr. Myth. Certain kinds of nymphs, daughters of
Oceanus and Tethys.
Oceanus : Gr. Myth. The eldest of the Titans, son of Uranus
and Gaea, the god of the stream bearing that name. He
married his sister Tethys, their children being the rivers
of the earth.
October : Vide Opal.
Ocypete : Gr, Myth. One of the Harpies (q.v.).
Odds and Evens : To discover whether the husband or the
wife will die first, calculate the numerical value of the
letters in the names of both. If the result be even, the
man will die first ; if odd, the woman. (Jew. Enc Vol.
IV, p.486.)
Odin : Norse Myth. He is the supreme deity, and god of
wisdom, poetry and war. He presided over Valhalla and
was leader of the Furious Hunt. He is a man with only
one eye, having left the other in pledge with Mimir (q.v.).
His wife was Frigg ; he was the father of Balder and
other gods.
Odysseus : Same as Ulysses (q.v.).
186 A DICTIONARY OF
GEdipus : Gr. Myth. Son of Laius and Jocasta, king and queen
of Thebes. "At his birth an oracle said that he would kill
his father ; he wa.s therefore given away. Later, CEdipus
not knowing his parentage, kills Laius in an altercation.
About this time the Sphinx (q.v.) devastated the land ;
CEdipus answered the Sphinx's riddle, ascended his
father's throne and, as the oracle had foretold, married
Jocasta, his mother. Eventually on discovering his
parentage, CEdipus tore out his eyes, and Jocasta hanged
herself. CEdipus was banished from his kingdom by his
unnatural sons ; he went to Colones in Attica where,
after cursing his sons, he expired. Vide Sphinx , Jocasta.
(Eneus : Gr. Myth. King of Calydon, father of Deianira.
Vide Deianira , Hercules , Nessus.
Oginius : A god of the Gauls, who has been identified with
Hercules.
Ogre : A spirit who has the power of flying through the air.
Ogyges : Gr. Myth. An ancient king of Thebes, during whose
reign there was a partial deluge.
Dgygia : An island where Odysseus was kept for seven years
by the siren Calypso.
Ohonamochi : Jap. Myth. “ Great-name-preserver." One of
Susa-no-wo’s children ; an Earth-god. Ohonamochi is
frequently referred to as the “ God who made the land."
He had a numerous progeny by different mothers, among
whom were the harvest and the food gods.
Oil : It is an evil omen to spill oil ; it portends poverty.
[Greece. — Lawson, p. 328.)
Oilman : In India it is unlucky to see the face of a teli or
oilman immediately on getting up in the morning. The
Telis belong to the lowest caste in India, (cf. Ethnologic
du Bengale , pp. 122, 33.)
Ojha : An exorcist who drives away ghosts from possessed
persons.
Old Man of the Sea : A spirit or malicious demon appearing
in Alif laila wa laila, “The Adventures of Sinbad the
Sailor."
Old Nick
Old One
Old Serpent
Old Simmie
Different names for the Devil (q.v.).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
187
Omen : An occurrence supposed to portend or show the
character of some future event.
A good omen is best at the beginning of a journey,
less good, though not harmful at the middle and better
near the end. (Tibet. — WaddeL, p. 136.)
Ondine : A nixie of French superstition.
Onion : To dream of onions portends good luck. ( U.S.A . —
Knortz, p. 43,) Strict Hindus do not eat onions, garlic,
mushrooms and some other vegetables (Jolly, Recht
und Sitte, pp. 157 sq.; Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 85, n. 3).
Oni-tsuki : The name of the demon-possession of Japan.
Onufrius : The White Russians speak of their forest-spirit
by this name. Vide Lyesovik.
Onyx : Onyx contains in it an imprisoned devil which wakes
at sunset, and causes terror to the wearer, disturbing sleep
with ugly dreams.
In the Zodiac onyx stands for Aquarius ; some say
it is an emblem of August and conjugal love ; in Christian
art it symbolizes sincerity.
Cupid with the sharp point of his arrows cut Venus’s
nails while she was asleep, and the parings falling into the
Indus, sank to the bottom, and turned into onyxes.
Opal : This stone is believed to be fatal to love and sows
discord between the giver and the receiver ; given, how-
ever, as an engagement token, it is sure to bring luck.
Opal is an emblem of hope, and is dedicated to October,
Opal turns pale at the approach of poison.
Opals are unlucky (Great Britain, Germany, France,
Italy, U.S.A., India), unless set with diamonds (New
York. — Bergen, C.S., p. 84.)
Ops : An ancient Italian goddess of the harvest.
Orang-utan : “ The man of the woods ” ; Malay name for
a monkey, cf. Banmanush, Monkey.
Oread : Certain kinds of nymphs.
Orestes : Gr. Myth. A son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra.
He revenges his father’s murder by slaying his mother
and ZEgisthus. His friendship to Pyladus has remained
proverbial.
Orion : Gr. Myth. A hunter who was changed into a con-
stellation by Diana.
i88
A DICTIONARY OF
The Esquimaux say that the stars of Orion's Belt are
the lost ones ; they are seal-hunters who lost their way
home. (Cranz, Gronland).
The natives of Australia say that the “ stars are young
men dancing a corroboree.” (Tylor, quoting Stanbridge.)
Orlando : Orlando was squeezed to death by Bernardo del
Carpio.
Ormazd : Zoroastrianism. The supreme deity, the principal
god, the creator of the world, and the guardian of man-
kind. He is attended by angels and archangels, and is
represented as a bearded man enclosed in a winged circle,
cf. Ahur.
Ormandine : The necromancer who threw St. David into an
enchanted sleep for seven years, from which he was
reclaimed by St. George.
Oromazes : Pers. Myth. The principle of good.
Vide Yezad.
Orpheus : Class. Myth. Son of (Eagres, king of Thracia, and
the Muse Calliope. He was a poet and a musician, whose
lyre could charm beasts and make trees and rocks move.
He was one of the Argonauts. After his wife’s death by
snake-bite on the day of their marriage, he descended
into Hades, and pleased Pluto so much, that he allowed
Eurydice, his wife, to go back to the world again, but
made a condition that Orpheus must not look back as
long as he was not back on earth again. He neglected to
keep this condition, and his wife had to retrace her steps
to Hades.
Osiris : Egypt. Myth. The great god of the underworld,
judge of the dead. He was the brother and husband of
Isis, and father of Horus. He is said to have been a wise
and beneficent king, who was treacherously slain by his
brother Set. Osiris is considered to have been originally
a corn-spirit. He is often identified with R& as a source
of life and fruitfulness.
Osprey : When fish see the osprey, they are so fascinated
that they “ swoon,” and turning on their backs, yield
themselves an easy prey to the bird. (cf. Shakespeare,
Coriolanus, Act IV Scene 7.)
Ostrich : An ostrich can digest iron (Hazlitt, p. 467) ; hence
the popular expression, “ A stomach like that of an
ostrich.”
Ottilie, St. : Bad eyes can be cured by invoking the aid of
St. Ottilie.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
189
Oudh ; A province in India. According to a Hindu legend,
this is considered to be the birthplace of the Aryan race.
(Petit Lavousse illusive , p. 1501.)
Ouranabad : A monster represented as a fierce flying hydra.
Oven : To dream of a hot oven denotes joy.
Never leave a stove or an oven empty ; if you have
nothing to cook or bake in it, put a piece of wood in it ;
if you leave it empty, you may not have anything to
cook or bake when you want it, (Minsk. — Jew . Enc.,
Vol. XI, p. 601.)
Ovinik : Russian Folklore. A kind of household-spirit, which
lives in the drying kiln.
Owl : Owl’s flesh is superstitiously believed to be a powerful
charm, the eating of which causes a man to become a
fool and lose his memory. (Crooke, Pop. Rel.t VoL I,
p. 274 ; id., Islam in India , p. 243.)
It is unlucky to shoot an owl. (Elworthy, E.E.,
p- 91 •)
The cry of an owl in the immediate vicinity of a house
forebodes calamity, sickness or death. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 26 ; Abbott, p. 107 ; Alsace — Lambs, p. 31 ;
Elworthy, E.E., p. 91 ; Hazlitt, p. 469 ; Jackson,
F.L.N., Vol. II, p. 58; Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 112;
Dalyell, Dark . Sup. Scot., p. 503.)
One day an owl strayed into the Capitol, and the
Romans, to avert the evil, underwent a formal lustra-
tion.
The death of Augustus was presaged by an owl
screeching upon the top of the Curia.
The death of Commodus Aurelius, the emperor,
was f orboded by an owl sitting on the top of his chamber
at Lanuvium.
The murder of Julius Caesar was presaged by the
screeching of owls.
The death of Valentinian was presaged by an owl,
which perched on the top of the house where he used
to bathe. ; #
The great plague of Wurzburg in Franconia in A.D.
1542, was foretold by the screeching of an owl.
Vide Ascalophos.
Oyster : Oysters in popular belief grow on trees. (Goodrich,
Man upon the Sea , p. 255.)
Whoever eats oysters on St. James’ Day (August 5th),
' will never know want (Bassett, p. 265.)
I90 A DICTIONARY OF
Ozair : A prophet. One day riding on an ass by the ruins of
Jerusalem, after its destruction by the Chaldeans, he
doubted in his mind, whether God could raise the city
up again. Whereupon God caused him to die ; he remained
dead a hundred years, but was then restored to life. He
found the basket of figs and wine as fresh as when he died,
but his ass was a mass of bones. While he still looked on,
the dry bones came together, received life, and the
resuscitated ass began to bray ; whereupon the prophet
no longer doubted the power of God to raise up Jerusalem
from its ruins. {Al Qor’an. The legend is based on
Neh. II, 12-20.)
P
Pactolus : A river of Lydia in Asia Minor, which was said
to flow over golden sands. The modem name is Bagouly.
Vide Midas.
Padalon : The Hindu hell under the earth. It has eight
gates, each of which is guarded by a gigantic deity.
Paean : Gr. Myth. A doctor of the gods. He cured Ares who
was wounded by Diomed.
Paian : A Greek name of Apollo.
Pain : All sudden pains are warnings of evil at hand.
Pairikas : (Late Persian : Peris). “ Enchantresses ” ; they
were seductive beings like the Jahis.
Pakshiraj : “King of birds.” The winged steed of Indian
mythology. (Day, Folktales of Bengal ; Ethnologie du
Bengale, p. 102.)
Palaemon: Gr. Myth. The son of Ino, after being thrown into
the sea by his mother, became the sea-god Palaemon.
Pales : Rom. Myth. A goddess who protected shepherds and
their flocks.
Pallas : Gr. Myth. A name of Minerva (q.v.) considered as
a goddess of war.
Palm : An outstretched palm of the hand is considered by the
Moors to be a most effective charm against the “ evil
eye.” (Meakin, The Moors, p. 354; Hindus.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
191
An irritation of the palm of the right hand promises
money; of the left, it denotes that you will lose some
money (Great Britain, India, Ethnologie du Bengale,
p. 127 ; Alsace. — Lambs, p. 39 ; Greece. — Lawson, p. 390 ;
Macedonia. — Abbott, p. 112) ; in America, it is the
opposite. ( Memoirs of the Amer. Folk Lore Soc., IV,
P- 135)
Palsy : In cases of palsy, St. Cornelius should be invoked.
Pan : Class. Myth. Son of Hermes and the nymph Dryope.
A god of flocks and pastures, patron of shepherds, hunters,
fishermen, etc. Pan is represented as having the legs,
and sometimes the horns and ears of a goat. cf. Satyr .
Panchajana : Hind. Myth. Name of the demon who lived in the
sea in the form of a conch-shell. (Dowson, H.C.D. , p. 225).
Pandion : A legendary king of Athens.
Pandora : Gr. Myth. The first woman created by Vulcan.
Minerva, goddess of sagacity, endowed her with ail the
charms ; Zeus presented her with a big box and sent her
down to man, decked with golden bands and garlands of
spring flowers. Epimetheus, in spite of the warnings of
his brother, Prometheus, took her. The wicked Pandora
raised the lid of the great ca.sk and shook out the evils
that wander among mankind, and the diseases that by day
and night bring ill. She set on the lid. again, and shut
Hope in, that evil might be ever hopeless to mankind.
Pan Ku : Chin. Myth. A being alleged to have been the first
development out of chaos. He caused wind by breathing
and created day by opening his eyes. (Mayers, Chin.
Read. Man., p. 186.)
Panel ; The cracking of wooden wall panels is a sign of approach-
ing death. (Bertholet, p. 20 ; Lady Wilde, p. 138 ;
. Owen, pp. 303, 304.) T.
Pantagruel : PantagrueFs tongue formed shelter for a whole
army ; his throat and mouth contained whole cities.
Pantagruelion : A herb (hemp) symbolical of persecution.
Rabelais says, Pantagruel was the inventor of a certain use
for which this herb served ; it was, he said, extremely hate-
ful to felons, who detested it as much as the 4 4 strangle weed. * *
Papa Purusha : Hind. Myth. 44 Man of sin.” A personification
of all wickedness in human form, of which all the members
are great sins ; the head is brahmanicide, the arm cow-
killing, the nose woman-murder. (Dowson, H.C.D. , p. 229.)
A DICTIONARY OF
192
Papillon : A great prince who was conquered by King Arthur,
and condemned to spend three years in silence in the form
of a horse. While in this form, he received Holgar the
Dane in the castle of Avalon.
Paracelsus : Paracelsus is said to have kept a small devil
prisoner in the pommel of his sword. For medicines he
preferred metallic substances, while Galen preferred herbs.
His full name was Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus
Paracelsus, but his family name was Bombastus (T493-
W-)
Parcae : Rom. Myth. The Latin name for the goddesses of
Fate. They were three in number : Nona , Decima and
Morta . cf. " Fates , Norn , Bidhatafturusha , Hathor , Sudicky .
Parizadi : Sister of Prince Bahman and owner of the famous
knife.
Parthenope : Gr. Myth. One of the sirens, who threw herself
into the sea, because she was unable to lure Odysseus
to destruction. She was cast off by the sea near Naples,
where there is an ancient town bearing her name.
Parting : If a woman’s hair parts where it should not, it is a
sign that she will be a widow.
Partridge : Vide Talos .
Parvati : Hind. Myth. The goddess Devi is called Parvati,
“ mountain-born,” because she is the daughter of the
Himalaya Mountains.
Pasiphae : Gr. Myth. Wife of Minos. On Minos refusing to
sacrifice a bull sent to him by Poseidon, the god caused
Pasiphae to become enamoured of it and thus give birth
to the monster, Minotaur. Vide Minotaur , Theseus , Minos .
Pasitasanas : Hind. Myth, Carnivorous and cannibal imps
descended from Nikasha. (Dowson, H.C.D. , p. 235.)
Passover : In Galicia it is recommended not to leave a tank
of water uncovered during this time ; even if water be
poured in, it should be done through a cloth. (Jew . Enc.,
Vol. IX, p. 519O
Passport : There is a remarkable custom still surviving in
Russia of placing in the hands of the dead a sort of pass-
port to the nether world. (Elworthy, E.E., p. 399.)
Path of Spirits : North American tribal name for the Galaxy,
by which, the souls travel to the land beyond the grave ;
their camp fires may be seen blazing as brighter stars.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
193
Fatrocles : A hero, friend of Achilles, whom he followed to the
siege of Troy. ; ,
Patronella, St. : The patron saint for ague.
Peach : A sprig of peach-blossom placed over the lintel is
believed by the Chinese to act as a charm, and to drive
away demons. (Williams, Mid. Kingd., Vol. II, p. 255.)
The fruit of the peach tree of the Genii, which grows
by the borders of the Lake of Gems, confers the gift of
immortality. (Mayers, Chin. Read. Man., p. 191.)
Peachwood : In China it is said to be a powerful asset in the
art of exorcising. It is for this reason that peach twigs
and peach blossoms are so often mentioned in Chinese
fairy lore.
Peacock : The loud calling of a peacock presages death.
(Ethnologie du Bengale, p. hi ; F.L.J., 1883, p. 227.)
Peacocks give warning of poison by ruffling their
feathers.
It is a charm against snake-bite to smoke a peacock’s
feather in a pipe. {India. — Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 250 ;
Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p. 141.)
Pearl : Pearls are concentrated tears, and bring tears to the
owners. In the East a dissolved pearl is an essential
ingredient of every love potion (Marr Murray in New
Magazine, September, 1923, p. 578).
A pearl wrapped up in leather was regarded by the
Jews as a healing remedy for cattle. (Hastings, Die. of
the Bible, Voi. IV, p. 604.)
The pearl acts as a charm against fire. (Mayers, Chin.
Read. Man., p. 26.)
Pearls are drops of rain swallowed by the oyster. •
“ And precious the tear as that rain from the sky
Which turns into pearls as it falls in the sea.”
Moore. — Lalla Rookh.
Pear tree : A pear tree blossoming in autumn promises a
marriage. {Lower Saxony . — Wuttke, p.35.) cf. Apple tree.
Peepul : It is a kind of tree ; it is worshipped by the Chinese
for long life. (Williams, Mid. Kingd., Vol. II, p. 259.)
The peepul is sacred to the Hindus, and is not cut.
It is considered to be reincarnation of a Brahman. It is
believed that the family of one who cuts it becomes
extinct. If a corpse be burnt with its wood, the soul of
the deceased attains salvation. (Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p.
136.) Girls are often married to peepul trees, (ib., p; 138.)
A DICTIONARY OF
194
Peewit : If your pockets are empty the first time you hear
the call of a peewit in spring, you will be in want for the
rest of that year. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 25.) cf. Plover.
Pegasus : Gr. Myth. A winged steed that sprang from the blood
of Medusa. With a blow of its hoof, it produced the
fountain Hippocrene or Helicon, cf. Pakshirdj.
Pe-kar : It is one of the fiercest of the Tibetan spirits, and
has been adopted as a special protector of the monasteries
by the Yellow-Hat sect of Lamas.
Pelias : Gr. Myth. A king of Iolchos, son of Neptune. By the
perfidious advice of Medusa, his children killed him in the
hope of rejuvenating him.
Pelican : The pelican turns her beak against her breast, and
pierces it till the blood comes, and then she nourishes
her young with her own blood.
Pelops: Gr. Myth. Grandson of Zeus and son of Tantalus, king
of Lydia. Pelops was killed by his father, and was served
as a repast to the gods. Ceres alone, absorbed in his
sorrows at the loss of his daughter, partook of this horrible
food. Zeus brought back Pelops to life and replaced the
shoulder eaten by Ceres with an ivory one. Later, Pelops
married Hippodamia, daughter of (Enomaus. After his
father-in-law’s death, Pelops succeeded him and ruled
over the Peloponnesians.
Penanggalan : She is the Vampire (q.v.) of Malay superstition.
She is said to be a living witch and can be killed if caught ;
she is especially feared in houses where a birth has taken
place, and it is the custom to hang up a bunch of thistle to
catch her. (Enc. Brit., Vol. VIII, p. 6; Skeat, Malay Magic.)
Penates : A general name for the domestic gods of the Romans.
A continual fire was kept burning in their honour.
Penelope : Gr. Myth. The faithful wife of Odysseus. During
her husband’s absence, she was importuned by. numerous
suitors ; she postponed deciding among them till she had
finished weaving a funeral pall for her father-in-law,
Laertes. She secretly unravelled all she had woven by
day, and thus put off her suitors.
P’eng Lai Shan : One of the three isles of the genii. (Mayers,
Chin. Read. Man., p. 187.)
Penthesilea : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Ares, queen of the
Amazons, She fought against the Greeks in the siege of
Troy, and was killed by Achilles.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
195
Pephredo : Gr. Myth. One of the Graeee.
Perchta : Teut. Folklore. An ancient goddess of the earth
and its fruitfulness. She is connected with spinning and
women’s work generally.
An epithet of the White Lady.
Perchta ’s Host : A Teutonic name for the Wild Hunt.
Peri : Muham. Folklore. Fairies who live in paradise, free
from care and sorrow.
“ A being represented as a descendant of fallen angels,
excluded from paradise till some penance is accom-
plished.”— Cassell’s English Dictionary.
“ The Peris are very beautiful, true believers and
opponents of the evil demons, div. (Redhou.se, Turk,
and Eng. Lex., Const., 1890, p. 446.)
Pernel, St. : Patron saint for ague.
Persephone : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Zeus and Demeter, wife
of Hades (Pluto). She was allowed to spend two-thirds
of the year with Demeter, her mother. Vide Hecate.
Perseus : Gr. Myth. Son of Zeus and Danae, who slew the
Gorgon, Medusa. Perseus stole the eye and the tooth of
the Graese, and refused to give them up until they had
instructed him how to proceed against Medusa.
Perspiration : The smell of perspiration is supposed to be a
powerful asset in attracting persons of the opposite sex ;
it also makes animals attached to you. (Stkackerjan,
Vol. II, p. 115 ; Krafft-Ebing, Psychopathia Sexualis,
Eng. tr., p. 27 ; Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 442.)
“ Perspire red, you must work for your bread ;
Perspire brown, you must live out of town.”
Popular Rhyme.
Henry III is said to have fallen madly in love with
Maria of Cleves by accidentally wiping his face with
her handkerchief, wet with her perspiration ; and thus
made her life, although she was the bride of the Prince
of Conde, very unhappy.
The same is said of Henry IV with regard to his
passion for the beautiful Gabriel.
Peter’s Fish : The haddock (q.v.) is' so called.
Petal: In Bengal she is a female malevolent spirit who
usually lives on trees ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 97.).
xg6 A DICTIONARY OF
Petrel : A kind of sea-bird, so called in allusion to St. Peter’s
walking on the sea (Matt. xiv. 29). Sailors consider it
unlucky to kill one of these birds. They are also called
Stormy Petrel or Mother Carey’s Chicken, cf. Albatross.
Petticoat :
“ This Friday night while going to bed,
I put my petticoat under my head,
To dream of the living and not of the dead.
To dream of the man I am to wed,
The colour of his eyes, the colour of his hair.
The colour of the clothes he is to wear.
And the night the wedding is to be.”
Rock Hall, Maryland (Knortz, p. 149).
Phaedra : Gr. Myth. Wife of Theseus, daughter of Minos and
Pasiphae. She declared her incestuous love for Hippolyt,
her step-son, who resented her advances ; she being
incensed, falsely accused him of making approaches to
her to her husband. Hippolyt was sacrificed to Neptune.
Later Phaedra was troubled with remorse and committed
suicide by strangling herself.
Phaethon : Class. Myth. The sun-god Hehos, or his son.
Phallus : A figure of the male organ of generation, venerated
as a symbol of the generating power in nature, cf. Yoni.
Phantom : Something that appears to the sight or other
senses, but has no material substance ; a spirit ; a ghost.
“ Hark the Phantom of the House
That ever shrieks before a death.”
Tennyson, Elaine.
Pheng Niao : Chin. Myth. A fabulous bird of a monstrous
size, with wings like the clouds of heaven. It comes into
being by metamorphosis from the Khwan fish, a monster
of the deep. (Writings of Kwang-tse, Bk. I, Pt. I, 3 ;
Mayers, Chin. Read. Man., p. 187.)
P’hepo : “Demon the East African name for the sand-
pillar (q.v.).
Philemon : Gr. Myth. Husband of Baucis. His and his wife’s
names have become symbolic of conjugal love. (cf.
Hawthorne, T.T.).
Philomele : Gr. Myth. Daughter of Pandion, king of Athens.
She and her sister were changed respectively into a
mVhtine'ale and a swallow, cf Aedon
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
*97
Phoebe : Gr. Myth. A daughter of Gaea. According to a tra-
dition, she bequeathed the Delphian Oracle to Apollo
and Artemis, children of her daughter Leto.
Phoebus : Gr. Myth. Apollo as a sun-god.
Phoenix : Gr. Myth. Son of Agenor, king of Phoenicia, brother
of Cadmus.
Folklore. A fabulous bird. There is said to have been
but one phoenix in the world ; it lived for five hundred
years or longer. In Arabia it was consumed by fire by
its own act, and rose up again in youthful freshness from
its own ashes. Before burning itself, it builds a funeral
pyre, sings a melodious song, flaps its wings to fan the
fire, is consumed to ashes, and rises again rejuvenated ;
hence it is an emblem of immortality.
The phoenix has appeared five times in Egypt :
(i) in the reign of Sesostris ; (ii) in the reign of Amasis ;
(iii) in the reign of Ptolemy ; (iv) a little prior to the
death of Tiberius and (v) during the reign of Constan-
tine. Tacitus in his Annals VI, 28, mentions the
first three, cf. Feng hwang.
Phooka : Another spelling for a pooka (q.v.).-
Phorcus : Gr. Myth. A sea-deity, father of the Grseae.
Egypt. Myth. A solar divinity of ancient
Phra-Harmakhis
Egypt.
Picture : A picture falling off the wall without any apparent
cause, is an omen of an impending disaster, or of a death
in the family. (AT. and C. Germany , Tyrol. — Wuttke,
p. 38 ; Great Britain , India.) cf. Mirror .
Pidzu Pennu ; The rain god of the Khonds who rests upon the
sky above the hill country of Orissa, and pours down
the showers through his sieve. (Macpherson.)
Pie : You will enjoy as many happy months during the next
year as the number of mince pies you taste on Christmas
day. (Ragner.)
Pierides : Gr. Myth. The nine daughters of Pierus, king of
Macedonia, who were changed into magpies for having
disputed about the prize of singing with the Muses.
Sometimes the Muses themselves are designated by this
name.
i98 A DICTIONARY OF
Pig : If going on a journey or business, a sow crosses the
road, you will meet with disappointment, if not accident,
before you return home.
Pigs denote good luck.
To meet a sow with a litter of pigs is extremely lucky ;
it promises a successful journey.
If a woman be touched with pig’s flesh without her
knowledge she will be barren. (Bakhtyurs. — Ploss,
Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 508.)
When hogs run grunting home, a storm is impending.
The bacon of pigs killed in a waning moon will waste
much in the cooking.
When pigs carry straw in their mouth rain is at hand.
When taking pigs from a sow, they should be drawn
away backwards, otherwise the sow will be fallow.
In the forefeet of pigs is a very small hole, which may
be seen when the pig is dead and the hair carefully removed.
The legend is that the devils made their exit from the
swine through the forefeet, and left these holes. There
are also six very minute rings round each hole ; these are
said to have been made by the Devil’s claws. Vide Men-
struation, Fisherman, (cf. Frazer, Taboo, pp, 233, n. 4, 64.)
Pigeon : No person can die on a bed, or a pillow, containing
pigeon’s feathers. (Abbott, p. 232.)
If a white pigeon settles on a chimney, it bodes death
to someone in the family.
A blue pigeon is held sacred in Mecca.
A black pigeon gave the responses in the temple of
Ammon, another in Dodona.
In Kilcurry it is believed that pigeons enter a house
and gently knock at the windows at the moment of
death. {Folklore, X, p. 122.)
Pilgrim’s Road : The Turkish name for the Galaxy.
Pillalu : The Irish dirge.
Pillow : A Malay warrior's pillow and sleeping mat, while
he is away at the wars, must be kept rolled up. If any one
else were to use them, the absent warrior’s courage would
fail him and disaster would befall him. (Frazer, G.B2.,
Vol. I, p. 31.) Vid e Pigeon.
Pimple : A pimple on the tongue denotes that you have told
a lie. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 296.) Vide Wren.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
199
Pin : If you pass a pin in the street, you turn your back ori
luck. (Great Britain.)
Pins given away as gifts “prick the friendship.”
(Silesia. — W uttke, p. 135.)
“ See a pin and pick it up,
All the day you’ll have good luck ;
See a pin and let it lie,
Come to sorrow by and by.”
— New York .
“ See a pin and let it lie,
You’ll want that pin before you die.”
— Peabody , Mass .
Pin<Ji : The food offered by the Hindus to the spirits of their
deceased relatives, in order to appease their hunger. This
was formerly done at Gaya.
Pipe : Young people should never light their pipes at a lamp ;
if they do so, they will not have good wives. The proper
things to light pipes with are the glowing coals in the
brazier. (Japan. — Griffis, M.E., p. 472.)
Pirene : Gr. Myth. Pirene disconsolate at the loss of her
son, who was killed by the huntress Diana, wept so much
that she was changed into a fountain which bears her
name.
“ This clear fountain was once a beautiful woman ;
and when her son was killed by the arrows of the
huntress Diana, she melted all away into tears. And
so the water, which you find so cool and sweet, is the
sorrow of that poor mother’s heart.”
Hawthorne, Tanglewood Tales., p. 139
Pirithous : Gr. Myth. A hero of Thessaly, son of Ixion, and
king of the Lapithes. His marriage with Hippodamia
was commemorated by the famous and bloody battle
of the Lapithes with the Centaurs.
Pisacha : “ Flesh-eater ” ; in India these are the ghosts of
madmen, habitual drunkards, the treacherous and the
violent tempered. “ It is an evil spirit produced by a
man’s vices, the ghost of a liar, adulterer, or criminal of
any kind, or of one who has died unseen.” (Crooke,
PJ2.I ^ Vol. I, p. 245 ; Ethnologic du Bengale , p. 102.)
Pisitasanas : Hind. Myth. A race of carnivorous imps. Vide
Nikashd , Pasitdsanas.
Pit : If you dream that you have fallen in a pit and cannot j
get out, some calamity will befall you, or your sweetheart j
will be false to you. I
200 A DICTIONARY OF
Pitheus : Gr. Myth. Father of iEgeus, grandfather of Theseus.
Pixie : Eng. Folklore. A certain class of fairies.
Pixie Ring : Eng. Folklore. A fairy-ring or circle.
Place : Do not change your place at the table ; it is very
unlucky. ( New York. — Bergen, C.S.)
Plague : St. Roch cures plague.
Vinegar poured over a red-hot brick was believed as a
plague preventive. ( Notes and Queries, 29 October, 1925.)
If there is an epidemic write on the door of the house,
“ Here has typhus (or cholera, etc.) already been,” and
the house will remain untouched. Or hang on the door
a locked “ Schloss ” and throw the key away. Or draw
a black mark with coal (in India, red) on the outer wall.
(Galicia. — Jew. Enc., Vol. XI, p. 601, quoting Schiffer,
Urquell, II, 80-82.)
Planchette : In modem spiritualism the planchette, a heart-
shaped piece of wood with a pencil through it, is said to
bring us in contact with the spirits in the other world.
Pleiades : Gr. Myth. The seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione,
who killed themselves in despair. They were metamor-
phosed into constellations.
Folklore. People who cannot see the Pleiades, will
die in a short time.
Plon : Among the Wends, a Plon is a dragon in the form of a
fiery sphere. It can assume various forms ; the proper
place to confer with it is a cross-road.
Plough : To dream of ploughing denotes success in life and
good marriage.
Plover : If you have no money in your pocket when you hear
the call of a plover for the first time in spring, you will
be in want for the rest of the year. (Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 25.) cf. Peewit.
In the wild Gieritz swamp in the Aar, in Switzerland,
old maids become plovers. (Bertholet, p. 43.)
Plu : The Karens of South Asia say that Plu is the land of
the dead. (Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 25 ; Cross, Jour.
Amer. Or. Soc., Vol. IV, p. 309 ; Mason, Jour. As. Soc
Bengal, pt. II, p. 203.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 201
Plum : The Chinese attribute many magical qualities to this
fruit.
Pluto : Class. Myth. Son of Saturn and Rhea, husband of
Proserpina, brother of Zeus and Neptune, god of the
lower worlds. The Greeks called him Hades and the
Romans, Dis. cf. Yama , Tha-ma , Yen Wang .
Podarge : Another name of Celaeno.
Poison : Vide Opal , Peacock , Unicorn , Nurjehan’s Bracelet ,
Gates of Gundoforus , Rhinoceros , Venetian Glass, Toad .
Poker : Making a cross with the bars of the grate and the
poker drives the devil out of the room, and helps to make
the fire burn up brighter. (cf. Elworthy, Evil Eye,
pp. 221, 426, 429). Vide Iron.
Polednice : Bohemian Folklore. Midday female spirits who
fly about in the fields and woods, and steal little children
who have been inadvertently left alone by their mothers
in their dwellings. (Grohmann.)
PolednRek : Bohemian Folklore. A little boy dressed in a
white shirt who, at midday, passes from the forest into
the field and punishes those whom he finds doing damage
there. He sometimes leads people astray, cf . Ignis Fatuus.
Polevoy : The Russian name for the Polednice.
Pollux : Rom. Myth. One of the Dioscuri. Castor and Pollux
were said to have been hatched out of an egg.
Poludnitsa : Polish Folklore. A spirit who walks abroad
among cornfields, usually during the midday interval,
and kills or infects anyone who cannot answer her questions
or solve her riddles satisfactorily, cf. Sphinx .
Poludnitza : A Russian name for the Polednice.
Polymnia : Gr Myth. The Muse of lyric poetry. She is repre-
sented in an attitude of meditation.
Polynices : Gr. Myth. Son of (Edipus. He was slain in the
war against his brother Eteocles and his uncle Creon for
the possession of Thebes.
Polypheme ; A Cyclop, a gigantic giant who fed on human
flesh and whose only eye was blinded by Ulysses. (Homer,
Odyssey IX.)
Pomona : Rom. Myth. A goddess of fruits and gardens.
Poodle : A black poodle is seen on the graves of priests and
clergymen who have not been true to the Faith. ( Franken .
— Wuttke, p. 219.)
d
202
A DICTIONARY OF
Pooka. : Irish Folklore. A hobgoblin, or a malicious sprite,
generally believed to be the spirit of an animal.
“ Irish superstition makes the Phooka palpable to
the touch. To its agency the peasantry usually ascribe
accidental falls.”— T. Crofton Croker, Fairy Legends
(1825).
Pool of Heaven : Chin. Myth. A dark and great ocean in
the North, the dwelling of the fish called Khwan. {Writings
of Kwang-tse, Bk. I, pt. I, 3.)
Poppy : Poppy seeds are used to determine the sex of a baby
(q.v.)
Porcupine : When porcupines are hunted or annoyed, they
shoot out their quills in anger.
Porcupine's feet are used by the Chawia women of
North Africa as a protection during pregnancy, and by
Arab women for sore breasts.
Porpoise : Porpoises sporting and chasing one another about
ships foretell stormy weather. (Brand, Observations ,
Vol. III, p. 240.) To dream of porpoises prognosticates a
sea-voyage.
Portrait : If you have your portrait painted you will die.
(Frazer, G.B2., Vol. I, p. 297 ; cf. Blackwood’s Magazine ,
Feb., 1886, p. 235 ; J. A. E. Kohler, Volksbrauch etc .
in Voigtlande, p. 423 ; Ralston, Songs of the Russian
People , p. 117 ; F. H. Groome, In Gipsy Tents , Edin.,
1880, p. 337 sq. ; Abbott, p. 101 ; H. Spencer, Prin.
of Sociology , i. 305 § 157.)
Poseidon : Gr. Myth. God of the sea and watery element,
son of Cronus and Rhea, husband of Amphitrite. He was
also god of horses and chivalry. Vide Amphitrite , Drebkuls.
Possession : The fact of being possessed or occupied by a
demon or spirit. The symptoms of demon possession are :
“Some are struck dumb, others strike their heads, some go
mad and walk about naked ... he down and become
inactive/' (Crooke, Islam in India , p. 235.)
Pot : In Bulgaria, at the moment of death, all pots, kettles,
etc. are turned upside down, in order to prevent the soul
of the deceased taking refuge in one of them, and there-
from commencing a system of annoyance against the
family. (St. Clair and Brophy, p. 75.)
Poverty : Vide Oil , Mirror.
203
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
Prayer Book : The old Jews of Bohemia put a glass of water
and a prayer book on the table as a protection against
thunderbolts.
A prayer book keeps evil spirits away. Vide Thunder,
Glass, Bible, Qor’an.
Precious Stones : All kinds of precious stones cast into honey
become more brilliant thereby, each according to its
colour.
A bouquet composed of diamonds, lodestones and
sapphires combined renders a person almost invincible
and wholly irresistible. (See under different names of
precious stones.)
Pregnancy : Pregnant women must not be allowed to see a
dead body, lest they give birth to still-bom children
( Mecklenburg ) ; neither must they look at the moon,
lest the child be “ moon-struck.” ( Silesia , Oberpfalz. —
Wuttke, p. 193.)
If a pregnant woman takes anything belonging to
another, the child will be a thief. (Strackerjan, Vol. I,
P- 4 7)
If pregnant women be left alone in the dark, evil spirits
may do them some harm. [India. See Ploss, Das Weib,
Vol. I, p. 615 et. seq.) Vide Double Fruits, Godmother,
Lamp, Porcupine, Stones, Sepulchral, Sack, Moon, Porcu-
pine, Suicide. (For further superstitions see Lean,
Vol. II, p. 136 ; Frazer, The Magic Art, Vol. II, p. 108.)
Pretni : Same as a Petni (q.v.).
Priapus : Gr. Myth. A god of gardens and vines.
Prick : If you prick your finger accidentally while making
a dress, it presages that you will receive plenty of kisses.
[Berlin ; Germany [?].)
Priest : If a priest pursues you on your journey, you will be
cursed and bewitched by evil spirits, and despoiled by
robbers. [Tibet. — Waddell, p. 136.)
To dream of priests portends ill luck. [U.S.A., Knortz,
p. 43.)
Priests are especially liable to be struck by lightning.
(France. — Lean, Vol. II, p. 185.)
To meet a priest is unlucky. (Greece. — Lawson,
p. 306; Elworthy, E.E., p. 23 ; Abbott, p. 105.)
Scotch fishermen do not allow you to say " minister ”
or " kirk ” on their boats. (Bassett, p. 169.)
Vide Bonze, Poodle, Fish.
204 A DICTIONARY OF
Prince of Darkness : An epithet of the Devil.
Princess of Heaven : The Zulus have a “ spirit which they
call Nomkubulwana, or the Inkosazana-ye-Zulu (the
Princess of Heaven). She is said to be robed in white,
and to take the form of a young maiden, in fact an angel.
She is said to appear to some chosen person to whom she
imparts some revelation ; but, whatever the revelation
may be, it is kept a profound secret from outsiders.”
(Haggard, Nada the Lily, p. xi, quoting F. B. Fynney,
Z ululand and the Zulus ; cf. ib. pp. 183, 190, xoo.)
Procession, Funeral : When passing a funeral procession
turn your money over ; this will ensure your always being
in funds. {Great Britain.)
Procrustes : A legendary highwayman of Attica, who tied bis
victims upon an iron bed, and, as the case required, either
stretched or cut off their legs to adapt them to its length.
He was slain by Theseus who submitted him to the same
torture.
Prometheus : Gr. Myth. A Titan, son of Iapetus and Clymene,
regarded as the founder of civilization, and in later classical
tradition, as the creator of the human race. Owing to
his refusal to tell Zeus the source from which he would
be overthrown, Prometheus was chained to a rock with
a vulture eating his entrails and thus tortured till Chiron
died for him.
Promise : If a promise be given to someone to appear to him
after death, the spirit of the deceased will be compelled
to keep his promise. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 167.)
Proposal, Marriage : If a man dries himself on your worn
chemise, he will surely propose marriage to you. (Vide
Perspiration.)
The exchange of a yellow garter means a proposal of
marriage in six months. ( Washington , D.C. — Bergen,
C.S., p. 65.)
Proserpina : Same as Persephone.
Protesilaus : Gr. Myth. Husband of Laodomia. He being
slain at the siege of Troy, the dead body was sent home
to his wife who prayed that she might talk to him again,
if only for three hours. Her prayer was granted, but when
Protesilaus returned to the region of the dead, she accom-
panied him.
Proteus : Gr. Myth. A god of the sea, who was gifted with
the power of prophecy by his father Neptune.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
205
Psaphon : Gr. Myth. A young Libyan who desiring to be
honoured as a god, taught a great number of birds to
say : Psaphon is a god. The people were imposed upon
by this, and he was really worshipped as a god.
Ptah : Egypt. Myth. An ancient god who was identified with
Osiris ; his seat of worship was Memphis. “ Ptah was
one of the most active of the three great gods, who carried
out the commands of Thoth. . . , He was self -created
and was a form of the sun-god Ra as the ‘ Opener ’ of
the day. . . . His feminine counterpart was the goddess
Sekhet.” (Budge, Egypt. Ideals, etc., p. 98.)
Puberty : For various customs connected with puberty see
Frazer, G.B2., Vol. Ill, pp. 205 seq.
Puck : An evil, malicious, or mischievous spirit or demon of
popular superstition. In the Middle Ages, Puck was
commonly identified with the Biblical Devil.
Pu Hian : In Chinese Buddhist folklore, he is a holy man who
rides a lion ; he is a powerful helper in time of need.
( Chin. Volksmdrchen, p. 203.) cf. Guan Yin, Wen Ju.
Pukse : German Folklore. Another name for the Kobold.
Pulling Hair : If you pull a girl’s hair, you will take her
strength away. {Bengal. — cf. Frazer, The Magic Art,
Vol. I, pp. 102, 344.) Vide Hair, Samson.
Puluga : The Andaman Islanders have the idea of a being called
Puluga — that is, “ fire ” — who is supposed to he invisible
at present. He is held to know our thoughts and to punish
murder, adultery and theft. (Joseph Huby, Christ us,
Manuel d’histoire des religions, Paris, 1921, p. 94.)
Purple : Purple is a royal colour.
At a marriage ceremony no Japanese bride or bride-
groom will wear anything of a purple colour, lest the
marriage tie be soon loosed. (Griffis, M.E., p. 467.)
Pushpaka : Hind. Myth. The flower-adorned chariot of Kuvera,
the god of wealth.
Put : Hind. Myth. A hell to wfijch childless men are said to
be condemned. A name invented to explain the word
“ putra,” son. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 250.)
Putana : Hind. Myth. A female demon, daughter of Bali.
She attempted to kill the infant Krishna by suckling him,
but was herself sucked to death by the child. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. 251.)
206 A DICTIONARY OF
Pygmalion : Gr. Myth. A Greek sculptor who made a statue
of Galatea. This statue was animated by Venus, and
Pygmalion married his own statue.
Pygmy : A race of short-statured people. The ancients
believed that they existed in various parts of the world,
and especially in the region of the sources of the Nile.
The word “ pygmy ” is used in modern language to denote
a short person.
Pyladus : Gr. Myth. A friend of Orestes and husband of
Electra.
Pyrrha : Gr. Myth. Wife of Prometheus, mother of Deucalion.
Pysk : Swedish Folklore. “ Little goblin ” ; a pixie.
Pythia : Gr. Myth. One of the priestesses of the Delphian
Oracle.
Python : Gr. Myth. A monstrous serpent which arose from
the mud left after the subsidence of the deluge which
Deucalion survived. It dwelt in the caves of Mt. Parnassus,
where Apollo (q.v.) slew it.
Pythons are worshipped by the Ewe-speaking peoples
of the Slave Coast (Ellis, The Ewe-speaking Peoples,
54 sqq. ; Frazer, Adonis, i. 83, n. 1.)
0
Qaf : Moham. Myth. The mountains of Qaf are supposed
to encompass the whole of the earth, and to be the
chief abode of the Jinni. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 37.) Vide
Sakhrat.
Qahu : Egypt. Myth. This was the name by which the City
of the Gods was designated. (Budge, Book of the Dead,
Ch. CXLIX.)
Qebhsennuf : Egypt. Myth. One of the four children of Horns.
He was hawk-headed, and represented the West ; he
also protected the liver and the gall-bladder. (Budge,
Eastern Magic, p. 89.)
Qebhsnauf : Another spelling for Qebhsennuf.
Quenching Fire : St. Florian will help to quench fires.
Qen-Qentel : Egypt. Myth. A pool of Sekhet-Hetepet.
Qetebh meriri : Jewish Folklore. A spirit of poisonous pesti-
lence.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY m
Qor’an : The Qor’an is the holy book of the Muhammadans,,
and is used by them in the same manner for telling;
fortunes as the Bible by the Christians ; it is opened at
random, and the text thus found is said to give the key
to the problem you have in mind.
The Qor’an is a powerful charm against evil spirits.
The uneducated Muslims of India do not mention the
Qor’an by name, fearing to commit blasphemy thereby.
(Phillott, Hindustani Stepping Stones, Appendix.) cf.
Bible, Prayer Book, God, Shedim,
Quaking-grass : There is a lingering superstition in the Mid-
lands that the Briza brings ill-luck to its possessor.
(Lean, Vol. II, p. 639, quoting Tom Burgess, Old English
Wild Flowers, 1868.)
Quarrel : If you dream you are quarrelling, you will either
receive some unexpected news, or your sweetheart will
marry another. Vide Apron, Fire, Fireplace, Glass,
Knife, Shoe, Menstruation.
Question : Spirits must never be questioned directly. (Wuttke,
p. 224.) Vide “ What is the matter with you ? ”
Quetzal : A Central American bird, worshipped either as a
deity or as a symbol of a deity both by the Aztecs and
the Mayas.
Quetzalocoatl : Aztec Myth. A king from whom has been
derived the earliest Aztec culture. Quetzalocoatl driven
away by his evil brother, Tezcatlipoca, set sail for the
Golden Country of Tlapallan, promising to return at a
later date. Quetzalocoatl represents the day-deity.
“ By the sorceries of the Mexican god Tezcatlipoca
(q.v.) he (Quetzalocoatl) was driven to the fabled
country of Tlapallan, whence he had come. According
to another account, he was supposed to have cast
himself on a pyre, and after his death, his heart became
the morning star. By some he is regarded as a sun-god,
by others as a god of the air.” — Non-Classical Myth-
ology, p. 142.
Quinsy : St. Blaise cures quinsy.
Quirinus : Rom. Relig. An ancient god of war. As distinguished
from Mars, he was a god of armed peace rather than that
of aggressive warfare. In early times he, with Jupiter
and Mars, formed the dominant triad of the Roman state.
Qutrub : Arab. Folklore. The male Ghoul is called by this
name. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 43.)
208 a DICTIONARY OF
Qutrus : Moham. Folklore. They were demons who usually
assumed the form of cats. (Mas’udi, Muruj al-Dhabab,
III. 321.)
R
Ra : Egypt. Myth. The great god of the sun, the principal
deity of historical Egypt. He was the son of Nut, the sky,
and was believed to be engaged each night with the serpent
Apepi. He is represented as a man with a sun-disc round
his head.
Rabisu : Babyl. Folklore. A demon who springs upon his
victim unawares.
Ragnarok : Norse Myth. The so-called “ Twilight of the
Gods,” the final destruction of the world in the great
conflict between the Alsir (gods) on the one hand, and
on the other hand, the giants and the powers of Hel,
under the leadership of Loki.
Rahab : Hebrew Myth. A great demon or dragon, who after
a severe struggle, was overcome by Jahweh.
Rahu : Hind. Myth. A demon of coal-black colour, who
devours the sun, and thus causes a whole or a partial
eclipse. (Crooke, P.R.I., I, 19 ; Ethnologie du Bengale,
pp. iox sq.) Vide Indra, Ketu, Mayoba, Aracho, Eclipse.
Raiko and the Oni : This is one of the most famous of Japanese
folktales. Raiko, the bravest man of his times, fights
with monsters and ghouls, and kills all the wicked things
in Japan, so that children may now sleep in peace, without
being afraid of being carried away by ghouls, and the
like. (Griffis, M.E., pp. 491-493.)
Rain : Rain on a wedding day forebodes tears for the bride
(Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 451, quoting Karusio),
or foretells the birth of many children (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 23.)
Rain is caused by witches. (Lehmann, A.Z., p. m.)
Gnats flying low foretell rain.
The croaking of a crow or a frog denotes rain.
Rain can be stopped bv first-born children stripping
naked and standing on their heads ; or, in Calcutta, by
making a candle of cloth and burning it. ( Enc . Rel. Eth.,
Vol. VIII, p. 291.)
The Zulus cause rain by shooting at the sky with bows
and arrows. Vide Cat, Grass, Pig, Rake, Sexton, Whistle,
Crow, Frog, Raven, Dog, Rice; Woman, First-born Children,
Gnat, Mowing.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
209
Rainbow : The rainbow is considered by many nations to be
a demon ; thus in New Zealand (Taylor), among the
Karens of .Burma, in Dahomey (Burton), among the
. Indians of Ecuador (Karsten), the same superstition,
with slight variations, is prevalent, (cf. Tylor, P.C.,
Vol. I, pp. 256, 266, 268 sq.)
Among the Indians, the rainbow is said to be the bow
of Rama; hence it is called Rama-dhanuk, “Rama’s bow.”
If the two extremities of a rainbow are within the
limit of the same town, a death therein should be expected.
[Folklore, X, p. 364.)
The appearance of a rainbow portends death. (Dalyell,
Dark Sup., p. 503.)
To dream of a rainbow on your right hand side is good,
but if on the left. bad. Vide Cuichi Supai.
Rake : If a rake accidentally falls with the prongs pointing
upwards, it is a sure sign of a heavy rainfall. (Stracker-
jan, Vol. I, p. 35.)
Rakshasa ; Hind. Myth. The giants, goblins or evil spirits
of Indian mythology. They are of three sorts, and are
not all bad. One is a set of beings like the Yakshas, the
other a sort of Titans or enemies, and lastly, the demons
who haunt cemeteries, disturb sacrifices, and devour human
beings. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 254 ; Vide Day, Folktales
of Bengal ; Ethnologie du Bengale , pp. 93 sq.)
Rakshasi : The female counterpart of the above. They have
the power of assuming the forms of beautiful maidens in
order to allure human beings They are carnivorous, and
are said to have devastated whole cities. Among other
powers ascribed to them, they are believed to be capable
of stretching their bodies to a distance of eighty miles,
(cf. Day, Folktales of Bengal ; Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I,
p. 250.)
Rakshe : A monster whose ordinary food was serpents and
dragons.
Rama : Hind. Myth. Hero of the great epic Ramayana,
one of the incarnations of Vishnu. He was sent into exile
for fourteen years at the desire of his step-mother. In his
exile, he was accompanied by his wife Sita and his brother
Lakshman. He exterminated the Rakshasas with the help
of Hanuman, the monkey-king, and rescued Sit&, whom
their king Ravana had kidnapped.
Ramman : Assyr. Myth. “ Thunderer ” ; an epithet of Adad.
210 A DICTIONARY OF
Ran : Old Norse Myth. Wife of Tigir. She was a man-stealing
demon of the sea, a hag who had no heart in her body.
She lay in wait for sailors with her net, or tried to drag
down ships with her arms to the depths, cf. Nixie,
Hakkenmann .
Rarasek : Bohemian Folklore. It is either the spirit of a
cyclone, or a kind of domestic spirit. (Grohmann, p. 15,
quoting Jungmann, Slovnik.)
Rat : Many rats coming suddenly in a house foretell death
( Folklore Journal , V, p. 217) ; on board a ship, it is a sign
of luck, but if they leave, the ship will be wrecked
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 24) ; similarly, they leave a
house before a fall.
If a rat, during the night, gnaw the furniture of a room
or our clothes, it is indicative of some impending evil,
perhaps even death.
The Romans said that to see a white rat was a certain
presage of good luck.
To destroy rats, St. Gertrude should be invoked.
In Macedonia if rats gnaw the clothes, it is taken as
a hint that there is a dishonest servant in the house.
(Abbott, p. 108.) Vide Mouse .
Ratatosk : Norse Myth. A squirrel who carries words of strife
up and down. Vide Yggdrasil.
Rattlesnake : Rattlesnakes exercise so great a fascination over
birds, that they fall an easy prey to them.
Some North American Indians will spare the rattle-
snake, fearing the vengeance of the spirit, if slain.
Ravana : Hind. Myth. The demon-king of Lanka or Ceylon.
He was able to assume any form he pleased, and was
malignant and terrible to the utmost degree. He had
ten heads, twenty copper coloured arms and big shining
teeth like swords ; his form was as thick as a mountain.
He disguised himself like an old woman, and succeeded
in carrying off Sita, which brought on the war with Rama.
Ravana and his giants were conquered by the hero, and
Sita was rescued.
Raven : Ravens are ill-omened birds (Haggard, Nada the
Lily , p. 214; Dalyell, p. 503; Elworthy, E.E.,
p. 94 ; Bassett, p. 275) ; they forebode pestilence and
death and call up rain ; hence the expression “ to croak
like a raven.”
Ravens nailed up in stables protect from illnesses
(Alsace. — Lambs, p. 31.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
211
Ravens seen on the left hand side of a person bode
impending evil. [Great Britain, India.)
If ravens gape against the sun, heat will follow ; but
if they busy themselves in preening or washing themselves,
there will be rain.
Ravens foster forsaken children.
A crowing raven in the vicinity of a house, or flying
over one in which a person is lying ill, denotes his speedy
death. [Germany. — Wuttke, p. 32 ; Owen, p. 304 ;
Hazlitt, p. 507.)
Ravens flying towards each other, presage a war.
(Swabia. — Wuttke, p. 33.)
The young of a raven, for nine days after it is hatched out
of the egg, is snowy white ; after that time has passed,
it changes its colour. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 103.)
The raven is said to be the most prophetic of “ inspired
birds.” It bodes private and public calamities ; hence the
proverbial expression, “to have the foresight of a raven.”
Among the North Pacific Coast tribes, the raven is
important as a creator or transformer. In Vancouver
Island, it is merely a greedy trickster.
According to the modem Indians, the raven is the
“ Messenger of Death.”
In Cornwall, King Arthur is said to live in the form of
a raven. (Bertholet, p. 34.) Vide Crow, Rook, Wolf.
Pliny (Nat. Hist., VII, 174) tells us that the soul of
Aristeas of Proconnesus issued from his mouth in the
shape of a raven.
Razor : It is unlucky to present a knife, razor, scissors or any
sharp instrument, as they are apt to cut love and friend-
ship. (Brand, Observations, Vol. Ill, p. 250.)
To find a knife or a razor denotes ill luck and disappoint-
ment to the party, (ib.)
rDud : (Pron . dut). Tibetan Folklore. Evil genii or fiends of
an actively malignant type.
Rebirth : According to most Orientals, people who have not
fulfilled all their duties on earth, must be bom again.
Red : Red is symbolic of love and pleasure. (Strackerjan,
Vol. II, p. 69 : cf . Hartland, Legend of Perseus, Vol. II,
P- 337-)
Evil spirits who wish to seduce people, are usually
dressed in red. ’
Red Hare : Chin. Myth. A supernatural beast of auspicious
omen, which appears when virtuous rulers govern the
empire. (Mayers, Chin. Read. Man.,?- 235.) Vide Hare.
2X2
A DICTIONARY OF
Red Riding Hood : In. a German version of this well-known
story, she and her grandmother are actually swallowed
by the wolf ; they come out safe and sound, when the
hunters cut open the sleeping beast.
Red Swan : The North American Indian Myth of the Red
Swan is probably, as Longfellow suggests, only a vivid
picture of the setting sun. (Tylor, P.C., Vol. I, p. 312.)
Reed : If reeds be planted in a house, a death will speedily
follow. (Good rich-Freer in Folklore, XIII, p. 32.)
Regin : Volsunga Saga. A treacherous dwarf smith, brother
of Fafnir, and foster-father of Sigurd whom he incites to
slay Fafnir, plotting to kill the hero afterwards. His
purpose was miraculously revealed to Sigurd who slays
him.
Remarriage : At the remarriage ot a widower, the ghost of
his former wife appears at the wedding, and if she is
satisfied with this arrangement, dances with the com-
pany. ( Usedom . — Wuttke, p. 2x6.)
Remora : A fish called the remora can arrest a ship in full
sail. (Brand, Observations, Vol. Ill, p. 259 ; Bassett,
p. 258 ; Hazlitt, p. 508.) cf. Echinus.
Return : To return after one has left the house, or to forget
something on starting is unlucky {Germany. — Wuttke,
p. 36) ; but the misfortune can be averted by sitting down
on your return and counting twelve. [Great Britain,
India ; Abbott, p. 105.)
Rhadamantos : Gr. Myth. One of the three judges of the
infernal regions, the other two being Eacus and Minos.
Rhea : Class. Myth. Daughter of Uranus and Gaea, wife of
Cronus, mother of Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, Hestia
and Demeter ; hence she was called “ Mother of the
Gods.” She was regarded by the Greeks as a local form of
the great nature goddess.
Rheumatism : The worn left stocking, or a skein of silk,
wrapped round the part affected, cures rheumatism.
Horse chestnuts, or chestnuts {Dutch) carried in the
pocket also cure rheumatism. Vide Kite, Deer.
Rhinoceros : If the horn of a rhinoceros be cut through the
middle from one extremity to another, several little
lines representing human figures will be seen.
If poison be put into a vessel made of rhinoceros’s horn,
the liquid contained therein will effervesce, cf. Poison.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 213
Ribbon : A silk ribbon tied round a child’s neck, cures various
diseases. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 80 ; Vol. II, p. 139.)
A piece of red ribbon protects children from bewitch-
ment. ( Bohemia . — Grohmann, p. 112.)
A bow of some coloured ribbon on the child’s head after
dark, invites the evil eye. [Bengal.)
Rice : To throw rice denotes good luck ; hence rice is thrown
after the newly-married pair (Great Britain) ; in India
it is the reverse.
If young girls pour tea or hot water into a cup of red
rice, "their wedding nights will be rainy. (Japan. —
Griffis, M.E., p. 472.)
Frequent and regular use of rice as an article of food
is conducive to blindness. The vulgar name for rice on
board ship is “ strike-me-blind.” (Hazlitt, p. 510.)
Riches : St. Anne and St. Vincent will help those who seek
riches. Vide Ant.
Right : Vide Left.
Rijalu-l-ghaib : (“ Hidden men ”) Muham. Folklore. Cer-
tain invisible spirits of the air who move in a circular
orbit round the world. (Crooke, Islam in India, p. 278.)
Ring : It is favourable to dream of a ring, but if it is on the
wrong hand, your lover is deceitful. Vide Wedding Ring.
Ring, Bertha’s Emerald : The duke Gondibert gave Bertha
an emerald ring which, he said, would preserve its lustre
as long as he remained faithful, but would become dull
and pale if he proved false to her. cf. Bahman’s Knife,
Sophia’s Picture, Florimel’s Girdle, Canace’s Mirror.
River : Spirits dwell in rivers.
As a rule, spirits are unable to cross rivers and other
waterways. (Grimm.) Vide Water.
Road of the Birds : In Lithuanian legend, it is the name
of the Galaxy where souls of the good, fancied as fleeting
away at death like birds, dwell free and happy. (Hanusch.)
Road of Santiago : A Spanish name for the Galaxy.
Road of Souls : Same as the Path of Spirits (q.v.).
Road of the White Elephant : A Siamese name for the Galaxy.
Robber : The shin-bone of a sheep, placed above the door,
keeps out robbers. (The Kirghiz of Turkestan. — Schuyler,
Vol. II, p. 31.) •
A DICTIONARY OF
Robin : The red of a robin's breast is produced by the blood
of Jesus. While he was on his way to Calvary, a robin
plucked a thorn from his temples, and a drop of blood
falling on the bird turned its bosom red. According to
another version, the robin takes dew in its beak to cool
the parched lips of the tortured in hell ; the flames of
hell singed the feathers of the breast and turned it red.
It is unlucky either to keep or kill a robin ; if anyone
attempts to detain a robin which has sought hospitality,
some calamity will befall him.
If a robin finds a dead body unburied, it will cover up
the face at least, if not the whole body.
The severity of a winter can be foretold by the redness
of a robin's breast. If a deep red, it will be severely cold ;
if pink mild.
" Call for the robin-red-breast and the wren,
Since o'er shady graves they hover,
And with leaves and flowers do cover
The friendless bodies of unburied men.
Call unto his funeral dole
The ant, the field-mouse, and the mole,
To rear him hillocks that shall keep him warm,
And (when gay tombs are robb'd) sustain no harm,
But keep the wolf far thence, that's foe to men,
For with his nails he'll dig them up again."
— (quoted in Word-Lore , Yol. I, No. 5, p. 214.)
ci. Goose , Stork , Swallow.
Robin Goodfellow : Another name for Puck.
Roccia dla Fantina : In Switzerland, it is said to be the home
of fairies. (Jalla, Leg . Vaud.} pp. 18, 23.)
Roch, St. : St. Roch cures plague.
Rockenmuhme : “ Rye-aunt " ; a Teutonic spirit in human
form.
Rockensau : “Rye-sow"; a German field-spirit.
Roggenalte : Danish Folklore. A field-spirit in human form.
Roggenhund : “ Rye-dog " ; a German field-spirit.
Rojenice : The Slovakian name for the Sudicky.
Rokhitu : Egypt. Myth. They were spirits full of wisdom,
and were the personifications of the powers opposed to
Egypt.
Romulus : Legendary founder of Rome. He is said to have
vanished in the midst of a cloud.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
215
Rook : Rooks forsaking a wood, foretell a famine. c£. Crow ,
Raven .
Rooke, St. : Vide Boil , Disease , Scabs .
Roque, St. : St. Roque protects from infection.
Rosary : A rosary protects from the machinations of evil
spirits. (Roman Catholic.) cf. Beads , Crucifix .
Rose : According to a Teutonic superstition, rose trees spring
up on the graves of lovers, and are the abodes of departed
souls.
Rothmurchas : Vide Bodachun Dun.
Round Table : The table at which King Arthur (q.v.) sits.
It belonged to him.
Rowan Tree : A twig of the rowan tree is effective against
all evil things, including witches. (Rhys, C.F., p. 325;
cf. Word-Lore, Vol. I, p. 207, n. 33).
Royalty : Lions do not injure royalty.
Royal blood cures hydrophobia. (Arabs. — Hastings,
Die . Bib., Vol. IV, p. 603.)
Ruah palga : Same as Ruah zelahta.
Ruah qezarit : Jewish Folklore. A particular spirit of night-
mare. (Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p. 517.)
Ruah tezarit : Jew. Folklore. A spirit of delirious fever and
madness befalling mail and beast. (Jew. Enc.} Vol, IV,
p- 517-)
Ruah zelahta : Jewish Folklore. The spirit of headaches,
which dwells on palm trees.
Ruah zenuim : Jewish Folklore. The spirit of sexual desire.
(Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p, 517.)
Ruah zeradah : Jewish Folklore. The demon of catalepsy.
Rubbing : If you see a person rubbing only one eye in the
morning, you are sure to have a quarrel in the course
of the day. (Bengal.)
Riibezahl ; The most famous of the mountain spirits of Ger-
many, who dwelt in Riesengebirge between Silesia and
Bohemia. According to a legend, he once stole a princess
and in order to please her, planted a big field with turnips
(Ruben) ; she asked him to count (zdhlen) the turnips,
and while he was doing so, escaped ; hence his ironic
name : Riibezahl,
2X6 A DICTIONARY OF
Ruby Rubies are the blood of the sacrificed. (Haggard,
People of the Mist.)
The Burmese believe that rubies ripen like fruit. They
say, a ruby in its crude state is colourless, and as it
matures, changes first to yellow, then to green, then to blue,
and lastly to a brilliant fed, its highest state of perfection
and ripeness.
The ruby signifies Aries in the Zodiacal signs. It is
given by some to December ; it is the emblem of brilliant
success.
Rudha : Hind. Myth. “ Howler.” He is a howling god, the
god of storms, and sometimes identified with the god of
fire. Sometimes he is a destructive deity who brings about
diseases upon men and cattle, and sometimes he is a
beneficent deity for healing diseases. (Dowson, H.C.D.,
p. 269.)
Rudra : Hind. Myth. The god of thunder. He is usually
represented as riding a bull.
Rusalka : Among the Slavs, these are more or less like the
Vilas. They are delicate female beings who live in forests,
fields and waters, and are mainly the souls of unbaptized
children and women who have died by drowning. They
seduce men by their voice and tickle them to death.
In Bohemian folklore they are kinds of water-spirits
who entice young men and women to destruction. (Groh-
mann, p. 8.)
In Russian folklore, they are female water-spirits who
appear as beautiful maidens with long hair, bathing and
sporting in the waters. They tickle bathers to death,
cause storms and wind, and are thought to influence the
luck of sailors and fishermen. (Ralston. Songs of the
Russian People . pp. 139-146.)
s
Saalah : Muham. Myth. An Arab evil spirit said to be found
mainly in forests, and when “ it captures a man . . .
it plays with him as a cat plays with a mouse.” It is
described as a creature of a hideous form, and is supposed
to be an offspring of human beings and men who eat
men. (Lane, A.S.M.A. , p. 44.)
Sabazius : An ancient Greek deity who was worshipped with
orgiastic rites and with nocturnal mysteries.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
21 7
Sabbat : Mediaeval Demonology. A nocturnal assembly in
which demons and sorcerers were thought to celebrate
their orgies.
Sabbath : Vide Witch’s Sabbath.
Sabdag : Tibetan Folklore. “Earth owners”; numerous
local spirits who inhabit the soils, springs and lakes.
They correspond to our own “ Elementals.”
Sable : When Siberian sable-hunters have caught a sable,
no one is allowed to see it and they think that if good
or evil be spoken of the captured sable, no more sables
will be caught. (Frazer, G.B2., Vol. II, p. 403, quoting
J. G. Gmelin, Reise durch Sibirien, II, 278.)
Sack : If a pregnant woman looks long in an empty open sack,
the child will have to suffer hunger. (U.S.A. — Knortz,
p. 8.)
Sacrifice : Gods of various nations can be appeased by offering
sacrifices to them. There have been various theories to
explain the meaning and importance of sacrifice. Thus
Tylor saw in sacrifice an attempt to secure the favour of
the gods. W. Robertson Smith explained sacrifice as a
meal in which the worshipper was sharing the meal with
his god, and Durkheim interpreted it in the same way.
Frazer has thought that he can find in sacrifice an attempt
to save the god of the worshipper from the inroads of
old age. L. Marillier thinks that sacrifice is a magical rite
to bend the will of the god to the will of the worshipper.
And lastly, Westermarck regards the offering of a victim
as an attempt to save the life of the worshipper, and
Hubert and Mauss ( Essai sur la nature et la fonction du
sacrifice, Annee Sociol., Vol. II, 1897-1898, p. 41) define
sacrifice as follows : “ Le sacrifice est un acte religieux,
qui, par la consecration d’une victime, modifie l’etat de
la personne morale qui l’accomplit ou de certains objets
auxquels elle s’interesse.”
The flesh and blood of the sacrificed were eaten and
drunk by the Aztecs, as this was considered to make
them strong and powerful. (Wuttke, Geschichte des
Heidenthums, Vol. I, p. 268, etc. ; Frazer, G.B2., VoL I,
P- I33-)
Saga : An ancient Scandinavian legend, tale, or history ;
hence any historical, mythical, or romantic tale of ancient
times.
218
A DICTIONARY OF
Sakhrat : Muham. Myth. The sacred stone on which Mt. Qaf
rests. Mt. Qaf is a circular plain, the home of giants, and
fairies. Anyone who possesses a single grain of the stone
Sakhrat has the power of working miracles. Its colour
is emerald, and its reflection gives a blue tint to the sky.
Sakti : Hind. Myth. The goddess Devi (q.v.) is called Sakti,
because she is the female energy of Siva.
Salamander : The salamanders are the spirits of fires
and live in them. They seek the hottest fire to breed in,
but soon quench it by the extreme chill of their bodies.
Should a glass-house fire be kept up without extinction
for more than seven years, there is no doubt but that a
salamander will be generated in the cinders.
Food touched by a salamander (a kind of a lizard)
is poisonous, (cf. Hazlitt, p. 531.)
Prester John in his letter to Manuel Comnenus,
Emperor of Constantinople, describes the salamander
as a worm, and says it makes cocoons like a silk-worm.
These cocoons being unwound by the ladies of the
palace are spun into dresses for the imperial women.
The dresses are washed in flames and not in water.
“ Diese Wesen konnen die Menschen ihre Umgebung
beeinflussen, indem sie deren Eigenschaften in Tatigkeit
versetzen, und wir miissen immer daran denken, dass
sie keine Unterscheidung von Recht und Unrecht haben ;
sie haben ihre eigene Gesetze von Moralitat. Aber wie
gesagt, wir kommen nicht viel mit ihnen in Beriihrung
da sie der Menschlichkeit so fremd sind.” Dora von
Gelder in Theosophische Kultur , January, 1925.
“ Les salamandres, croy ait-on, jouissaient de la
propriete ,de traverser la flamme sans se br filer.” —
Petit Larousse illustre , p. 892.
Salemal ; One of the four gods of Adite, the preserver of
sickness.
Saligen : Teut. Myth. A class of forest-spirits.
Saliva : The human saliva is a cure for blindness and a charm
against fascination. (Elworthy, EE., pp. 420, 663.)
A blacksmith who has to shoe a stubborn horse, spits
in his hand to drive off the evil spirit.
To unbewitch the bewitched, you must spit into the
shoe of your right foot.
: If a pugilist spits on his hands, his blows will be more
telling. (Dalyell, Dark. Sup., p. 71.)
If you spit on a serpent, it will die.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
219
Spitting for luck is a most common superstition, (cf.
Herrick, Hesperides, The Temple ; Hazlitt, p. 560 ;
Shiffer, Am Urquell, Vol. II, p. 202 ; Jew. Enc., Vol.' XI,
p. 600 ; Folklore, Vol. IV, pp. 358, 361 ; Frazer, G.B2.,
Vol. I, p. 204 ; Zingerle, Sitten, 176, 580 ; Melusine,
1878, c. 79 ; Elworthy, pp. 416, 418 ; Abbott, p. no ;
Doughty, Arab. Des., Vol. I, p. 227 ; Crooke, Pop.
Rel., Vol. I, p. 167 ; Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 132 ;
F. W. Nicolson, “ The Saliva Superstition in Classical
Literature,” Harvard Studies in Classical Philology, viii,
1897, 35 sqq. ; J, E. Crombie, “ The Saliva Superstition,”
International Folk-lore Congress, 1891, Papers and Trans-
actions, 249 sq. ; C. de Mensignac, Recherches ethro-
graphiques sur la salive et le crachat, Bordeaux, 1892,
50 sqq. ; Frazer, Taboo, pp. 279, 287 sqq.)
Fishermen usually spit on their hansel for luck in fishing.
If you spit on a letter just before enclosing it in the
envelope, and then again before posting it, you will have
success. Vide Spitting.
Salmon : If, when a girl shows signs of womanhood, she eats
fresh salmon, she would lose her senses, or her mouth
would be changed into a long beak. (Kolosh Indians of
Alaska. — Frazer, G.B2., Vol. Ill, p. 211, quoting Fr.
Boas, Fifth Report, p. 42.) Vide Fisherman.
Salt: Salt spilt towards a person indicates contention. (General.
— Brand, Observations, Vol. Ill, p. 160), but the evil
may be averted by throwing a pinch of the spilt salt
over your left shoulder. (Great Britain. — Dalyell,
Dark. Sup., p. 127.)
Salt must not be bought at night, neither be sold
(India) ; it should be obtained at daytime, and a portion
of it be thrown in the fire to ward off all dangers, and
especially to prevent quarrels in the family. (Japan. —
Griffis, M.E., p. 470.)
In Bohemia a mother throws salt behind her daughter as
she is going out, as a preventive against her falling in love.
“ As many grains of salt you spill,
So many days of sorrow you will fill.” — U.S.A.
If on a Christmas Eve you make a little heap of salt
on the table, and it melts overnight, you win die the
next year; if, in the morning, it remains undiminished,
you will live. (Ragner).
It is unlucky to help another person to salt. But to
whom the ill-luck is to happen does not seem to be settled.
(Hazlitt, p. 533.)
220
A DICTIONARY OF
A sieve or salt must on no account be lent out of the
house. The prosperity of the family will depart with
them. {Macedonia. — Abbott, p. ioi.)
Salt-cellar : If a girl omits to put the salt-cellar on the table,
while laying it for dinner, it is a sure sign that she is no
longer a virgin. [Rhineland, Westphalia. — Wuttke, p. 4a. \
Vide Virginity.
If a salt-cellar be overturned, a ship will be wrecked.
{Holland. — Bassett, p. 438.)
Salzburg : Vide Charlemagne.
Samael : Semitic Lore. A known storm-demon, from whose
name we have the samiel or simoom. (Dr. Brewer, R.H.)
Samovilas : Slav. Folklore. These are the souls of deceased
children and virgins, which dwell in woods, mountains
and lakes, and fly in the clouds. They are noted for their
dancing and exquisite singing they sometimes inter-
marry with men.
Samson : Samson's strength was said to have been in his
hair (q.v.).
Sandal : New sandals must not be put on after five o’clock in
the afternoon. {Japan. — Griffis, M.E., p. 472.)
Sandhya-bala : “ Strong in twilight.” Rakshasas and other
demons are supposed to be most powerful at twilight.
Sandmann : In German children’s superstition it is a bogey
which throws sand into the eyes of children who will
not go to sleep, (cf. E. T. A. Hoffmann, Der Sandmann.)
“ Sandmannchen kommt geschlichen
Und guckt durchs Fensterlein,
Ob irgendwo ein Kindchen
Nicht mag zu Bette sein.
Und wo es nur ein Kindlein fand
Streut es ins Aug’ ihm Sand.” —
W. VON Zuccamaglio, Sandmannchen (1839).
Sand-Pillar : The whistling sand pillars of the desert are
believed by the Muhammedans to be caused by the flight
of an evil jinn. (Lane, Burton.)
Sani : Hind. Myth. The god who brings ill luck and mis-
fortune.
Sankchinni : Indian Folklore. Female demons of a white com-
plexion. They usually stand at the dead of the night at the
foot of trees and look like sheets of white cloth. (Day, Folk-
tales of Bengal, p. 197 ; Ethnologic du Bengale, pp. 98 sq.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 221
Sankini : In Bengal it is a kind of a female spirit, closely
allied to Petni (q.v.), Dakini (q.v.), etc.
Sapphire : Sapphire produces somnambulism and impels the
wearer to all good works.
Sapphire brings misfortune to the wearer. {India.)
In the Zodiac it signifies Leo ; in Christian art it is
dedicated to St. Andrew, emblematic of his heavenly
faith and good hope. This gem is dedicated to April.
Sarabha : Hind. Myth. A fabulous animal represented as
having eight legs, and as dwelling in the Himalayas.
(Dowson, H.C.D., p. 282.)
Saraswati : Hind. Myth. Wife of Brahma, the goddess of
eloquence, learning and arts.
Sargon : “A fish supposed to be . . . our gilt-head. It was
anciently supposed to have an extraordinary affection
for goats, and to leap for joy when they approached the
sea.” (Hazlitt, p. 534.)
Sarpanit : Babyl. Myth. Consort of Marduk. She is sometimes
identified with the mother-goddess Ishtar.
Sarugami : The monkey-god possession of Shikoku, Japan.
Satan : Theology. The chief of the demons. His name is
mentioned several times in the New Testament, and
especially in the Apocalypse.
Sati : The burning of widows in India on the funeral pyre of
their deceased husbands, had probably its origin in the
idea that dutiful wives should accompany the spirits of
their dead husbands, and administer to their wants in the
spirit world (cf. Ethnologie du Bengale, pp. 67 sq.) cf.
Horse, Camel, Dog.
Saturday : In India this day is particularly unlucky, because
it is dedicated to Sani, the god of misfortune.
Saturday derives its name from Saturn to whom it is
dedicated." Vide Wednesday, Sunday, Friday, Thursday .
Saturn: Rom. Myth. The ancient god of the seed-sowing,
whose temple" in Rome was built in 497 b.c. In 2x7 b.c.
the worship of Saturn was conformed to that of the
Greek Cronus. .
Satyr : Class. Myth. A sylvan deity or demi-god, represented
as part human and part horse or goat, given to riotous
merriment and lasciviousness. They were companions
of, Bacchus, cf. Pan.
222
A DICTIONARY OF
Satyavana : Hind. Myth. Husband of Savitri (q.v.).
Savitri : Hind. Myth. Wife of Satyavana, who, after the death
of her husband, compelled Yama, the god of death, by
her devotedness, to restore her husband to life again.
The story has been related by various authors. Savitri
is considered by the Hindus to be a model of wifely
devotion.
Sbires : Muham. Myth. The assistants of Malik, the demon
of the underworld. They are eighteen in number.
Scabs : St. Rooke cures scabs.
Schachtmandl : German Folklore. The guardian-spirit of
the mines.
Scinus : A legendary robber of Attica, who was thrown into
the sea by Theseus. The sea, however, refused to take
such a scoundrel, neither would the earth, after being
rid of him once, take him back, so that he stuck fast in
the air. (cf. Hawthorne, T.T., p. 181.)
Scissors : If while using scissors they break in half, it is a
sign of a great disappointment.
If you accidentally drop a pair of scissors and it fixes
itself on the floor with the handle pointing towards you,
you will receive a gift.
A pair of opened-out scissors keeps witches and other
evil spirits at bay. [India) cf. Iron.
Scorpion : Scorpions sometimes sting themselves to death.
Scorpions have an oil which is a remedy for their stings.
(Hazlitt, p. 536.)
Scrat Slovenian Folklore. A demon which dwells in woods
and mountains. This fact indicates that this demon was
originally a forest-spirit.
Sea : There is a legend as to how the sea became salty. A sea-
captain had robbed a young man of a magic mill which
ground out anything that was asked for. After he had
learnt the secret of setting the mill going from the owner,
the wicked sailor pushed the young man overboard, but
forgot to learn how to stop the mill. He wished for some
salt, and the mill ground out salt in such quantity, that
the ship sank in mid ocean. The mill still grinds out
salt from the bottom of the sea. [Deutsche Mdrchen seit
Grimm, p. 266 ; cf. Bassett, p. 21.)
The roaring of the sea predicts a storm. (Brand,
Observations, Vol. II, p. 240.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
223
A Berber superstition says that God made gnats to
swallow the water of the rebellious ocean which was
not salty then ; then when it promised obedience, caused
them to vomit it up, but since then the sea is salty.
(Hay in Melusine, March, 1885.)
Scyros : Gr. Myth. An island in the iEgean Sea.
Sea-gull : It is unlucky to kill a sea-gull.
If you do not wish a sea-gull to fly away, put some salt
on its tail.
Sea-Serpent : A great mythical sea-monster of serpentine
form and enormous length ; it is frequently reported to
have been seen at sea. It is fabled to appear to announce
some great calamity, such as the death of a king.
(Bassett, p. 221. See Lehmann, Aberglaube uni Zauberei.)
Seal : According to the Greenlanders, seals and wildfowls are
scared by spectres “ which no human eye but the sorcerer’s
can behold.” (Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 179 ; Cranz,
Gronlani, p. 267.)
The Esquimaux believe that seals will be frightened
away, if the heads of those taken are thrown into the
water ; so they bum them or pile them up on the shore.
(Bassett, p. 246, quoting Farrer, Primitive Customs,
p. 28.)
Seb : Egypt. Myth. The earth deified. The consort of Seb
was Nut, the sky ; their children include Osiris, Isis,
Nepthys and Set. Vide Shu.
Sebastian, St. : St. Sebastian cures diseases because he was
martyred with arrows.
Second sight : The power of predicting or prophesying a
future event. People having this power are said to foresee
things.
Children born on a Sunday (q.v.) are gifted with the
power of second sight.
Seewiesken : In some parts of Germany the water-nixies axe
called by this name. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 419.)
Sef : Egypt. Myth. The lion-god (q.v.) on the right.
Sekhet : Egypt. Myth. The feminine counterpart of Ptah
(q.v.).
Sekhet Hetep : Egypt. Myth. A field of peace.
Selene : Name of an idol or deity whom the Saracens are
represented in mediaeval romances as worshipping.
224
A DICTIONARY OF
Semele : Gr. Myth. An earth goddess, daughter of Cadmus,
mother of Dionysus. Zeus promised to grant any boon
she asked for ; she begged to be allowed to see him in all
his splendour, and was destroyed by his lightnings. Hence
she was called “ Keraunia “ thunder-bitten.”
Semiramis : A legendary queen of Assyria, to whom is ascribed
the building of the famous hanging gardens.
Semnse : Rom. Myth. One of the Erinyes.
Sennar : Name of a city. According to an Arab legend, it
derived its name from a beautiful woman with teeth
glittering like fire, who was found sitting on a river bank
by the founders of the city. (Sinnar— tooth of fire.)
Serp : The Wend name for a Polednicek (q.v.).
Serpent : To dream of a serpent denotes danger, and perhaps
prison.
Serpents’ heads give strength to a man, and fidelity
to a woman. (Hazlitt, p. 539.)
In Macedonia, it is a bad omen to meet a serpent on
going out (Abbott, p. 106) ; in Lesbos, good. (G. George-
akis et Leon Pineau, Le Folklore de Lesbos, p. 339 )
See Snake.
Set : Egypt. Myth. An evil destiny, brother and slayer of
Osiris. He is represented with the head of a beast with
high square ears and a pointed snout. His consort was
Ta-urt.
Seven : The number seven is considered unlucky by the
Moors. (Meakin, The Moors, p. 354.)
The seventh child of a woman becomes a mara (q.v.).
(Kuhn und Schwarz, p. 420 ; Wolf, Beitrage, Vol. II,
p. 264 ; MCllenhof, p. 242 ; cf. Thiers, Traite des Sup.,
I, 436-7-)
Children should be introduced into their future pro-
fession before they are seven years old ; they will have
luck in their professions. (Hesse, Westphalia . — Wuttke,
p. 202 ; Wolf, Beitrage , Vol. I, p. 206.)
The ages of seven and all multiples of seven are critical
years for children. (Great Britain .) cf. Thirteen , Three.
Seven Sleepers of Ephesus : An early Christian legend in which
seven noble youths of Ephesus fly to a cavern, are pursued
by their enemies, and are walled in. They fall asleep and
wake up after a lapse of two centuries, (cf . the Legend of
Rip van Winkle ; see Elworthy, The Evil Eye , p. 407.)
Vide Al Raqim .
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
225
f Sexton : A sexton mowing the churchyard will bring about
! a rainfall. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 35.)
| Shabriri : Jewish Folklore. The demon of blindness. He rests
! on uncovered water at night, and inflicts blindness on
those who drink it. {Jew. Enc., Vol. IV., p. 517.)
( Shadow : A shadow is a kind of a personal spirit, and is able
? under certain circumstances, to live apart from the
owner, (cf. Chamisso, Peter Schlemihl.)
I The Basutos say, if a man walks on the river bank,
| a crocodile may seize his shadow on the water and drag
him in after it. (Sir J. Lubbock, Origin of Civilization,
< 1882, p. 219 ; cf. Tylor, P.C., i, 43 ; Frazer, Taboo,
p. 77 ; Spencer, i. 180.)
The Jews believe that if the shadow of one’s head be
invisible against the wall in a house where a light is
burning, on Hosha’na Rabbah Eve, it is an omen that
the person is destined to die within a year. ( Jew. Enc.,
| Vol IV, p. 486.)
The Hindus say that the shadow is a ghost, and would not
look at it after dark, for fear that they may be seized by it.
(cf. H. Spencer, Principles of Sociology, Lond., 1906, i, it6.)
He who does not throw a shadow on Christmas Eve,
will surely die in the next year. (Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 32), or is a ghost. {India. — Crooke, Vol. I, p. 237 ;
j, Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p. 106.)
In modern Greece, a builder who cannot get a human
victim, entices a man on to the site, secretly measures his
body or his shadow and buries the measure under the
foundation stone. It is believed that the man whose
shadow is thus buried will die within the year. (Schmidt,
Das Volksleben der Neugriechen, p. 196 et seq. ; Frazer,
1 G.B 2., Vol. I, p. 145 ; Elworthy, E.E., p. 82.) The
Roumanians have a similar belief. (Elworthy, p. 82.)
Shaitan: Muham. Folklore. (“The devil”). This word is com-
I monly used to signify a Jinn. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 27.)
Shaman : In its vulgar usage, it means a “ medicine-man.”
; Shamash : Assyro-Babyl. Myth. The chief sun-god, a bene-
( ficent power, who drives away winter storms, as also
| demons and spirits that cause disease, and brightens the
\ earth with verdure. He is a god of righteousness and
I order, and symbolizes the sun in general.
| Shamrock : A four-leaved shamrock brings luck to the owner,
[ especially if the owner be Irish. Vide Lucky Finds.
.226 A DICTIONARY OF
Shark : Sharks can tell a few days beforehand, if anyone on
board a vessel is going to die (Bassett, p. 240”) ; they
therefore follow a ship for days.
Sharpening : If you eat while someone is sharpening a knife,
your throat will be cut that same evening or next morning
at latest. (Frazer, G.B2., Vol. I, p. 44.)
Shaving : One reason for the widespread custom of shaving
on death of a near relative, is to change the appearance
of the mourner, so that the pursuing ghost of the deceased
. person may be unable to recognize and to follow. (Frazer ;
cf. Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 73.)
Shedim : “ Demons.” The Turkish Jews do not mention the
Shedim by name. (Garnett,, Turkish Life, p. 283 ;
Jew. Enc., Vol. IX, p. 599.) (cf. Good-folk of the Scotch
for “ fairies.”)
In Chaldean mythology this was the name of the storm-
demons of an ox-like form, as also the protective genii
of royal palaces and the like. (Delitzsch, Assyrisches
. Handworterbuch, pp. 60, 253, 261, 646 ; Jensen' Assyr.
Babyl. Mythen und Epen (1900), p. 453.) cf. Qor’an, God.
Shedu ; In Babylonian folklore they were strong and powerful
demons, cf. Utukku.
Sheep : It is lucky to meet a drove of sheep on going out.
(Wuttke, p. 32.)
The shin-bone of a sheep placed above the door, keeps
out robbers, or acts as a charm (The Kirghiz of Turkestan.
Schuyler, Vol. II, p. 31), or the knuckle bone is a preven-
tive against cramp. (Elworthy, E.E., p. 437.)
“ To have a black sheep was considered an omen of
good luck to the flock where it was bom, but if more than
one sheep was the result of the lambing season, then it
was the reverse of lucky.” (Hills in Word-Lore, Vol. I,
p. 147.)
(Other superstitions connected with the sheep are
given in Schuyler, Turkestan, Vol. II, pp. 31, etc.)
Shellfish : The Muhammedans abstain from shellfish, except
shrimps. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 208.)
Sheol : The Sheol of the ancient Hebrews corresponded to
the Greek Hades, and was an under-world of awful
depth.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
227
Shibbeta : Jewish Folklore. A female demon who brings
cramp to persons, especially children, who leave their
hands unwashed in the morning. (Jew. Enc., Vol. IV,
P- 5i6.)
Shibta : Jewish Folklore. A spirit who clings to the finger
tips, and afflicts people who eat with unwashed hands.
Shid : Babyl. Myth. An ancient goddess who belongs to the
pantheon of Erech.
Shin: The Arabic letter Shin, representing sharr, “ evil,” is
considered unlucky by the Muhammedans. (Meakin,
The Moors, p. 356.) cf. Kha.
Shinatsu-Hiko : Shinto Religion. He was produced from
Izanagi’s breath when he puffed away the mists which
surrounded the newly-formed country of Japan. (Aston,
Shinto, pp. 154, 155.) He is a symbol of spiritual mind
on the higher mental plane of the soul. (Gaskell,
D.S.L.S.M., p. 686.)
Shinbone : Vide Sheep.
Shingles : Can be cured by laying the skin of a black cat on
the part affected. (New York, Massachusetts. — Knortz,
p. 128. )
i
Ship, Spectral : The appearance of a spectral ship foretells
either a shipwreck (j Brittany . — P. Sebillot in Revue des
Traditions Populates, XII, p. 395 ; Scotland . — Gregor,
ibid, XI, p. 330 ; Cornwall . — Bottrell, Traditions and
Hearthside Stories, p. 141 ; M. A. Courtney in Folklore
Journal, V, p. 189), or a death [Hebrides, — Ggodrich-
Freer, in Folklore, XIII, p. 52.)
The spectral ship is doomed to sail about for eternity,
because the captain swore he would double the Cape,
whether God willed it or not. (Bassett, p. 363.) cf.
Flying Dutchman.
Shipwreck : Rats forsake a ship before a wreck. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 24.)
If the sound of a worm boring the planks of a ship be
audible, it forebodes some catastrophe, probably ship-
wreck. (Great Britain.)
Children born with a caul will never be drowned in a
shipwreck.
It is an evil omen to dream of a shipwreck. Vide Cat.
228 A DICTIONARY OF
Shiqq : A demon of Arabic superstition, having the form of
half a human being. (Lane, A.S.M.A., p. 45.)
Shirt : If a shirt be spun, woven, and sewed by a pure, chaste
maiden on Christmas day, it will be proof against lead or
steel. (Ragner.)
Shishchikul : In Vancouver Island, it is a large animal-like
monster who lives inside a mountain, and whose red hair
is a powerful amulet for success in war.
Shiver : If you suddenly shiver, it is a sign that someone is
walking over your grave. (Thorpe, N.M., Vol. Ill, p. 331.)
Shoe : The Romans thought it a bad omen, to put a shoe on
the wrong foot. (Hazlitt, p. 543.)
It is unlucky for lovers to give each other a present of
shoes. (Berlin.)
Never walk in one. shoe, or one slipper, lest your parents,
or one of them, die. (Jews of Minsk. — Jew. Enc., Vol. XI,
p. 60 r ; India.)
Old shoes are tied on to the bridal carriage for luck
(Great Britain), or in Transylvania, to enhance the fertility
of the union. (Hartland, Legend of Perseus, Vol. I, p. 171.)
If you leave shoes lying on their “ uppers,” you are
sure to have a quarrel with someone during the course
of the day. (Bengal.)
In Hessen, a woman in order to make her beloved love
her, steals a pair of his shoes, wears them herself for eight
days, and then returns them to him. (Ploss, Das Weib,
Vol. I, p. 443.)
In Poona, India, if a man feels that he has been struck
by an incantation, he at once takes hold of an upturned
shoe. (N.I.N.Q., I, 86.)
If new shoes creak, it is a sign that you have not paid
for them yet. (Great Britain , India.) cf. Scissors , Knife ,
Slippers, Needle , Rice , Sandals , Footwear , Sleeplessness.
Shoelace : If a shoelace comes undone, it denotes that someone
is thinking of you. (Great Britain)
If the shoelace comes unlaced
“ Tis a sure sign and true,
At that very moment
Your true love thinks of you.”.
. New York (Bergen, C.S., p. 63.)
cf. Hairpin .
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
229
Shony : A spectral dog of Cornwall. It is said to predict a
storm when appearing on the beach. (Hunt; Bassett,
: p. 279.)
Shooting : If you wish to have a successful day- in shooting,
■ allow a virgin to jump across your gun, before you set
out. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 98.) ‘ '
Shooting Pains : All sudden pains are warnings of evil at hand.
Shot, First : If a hunter misses the first shot, it presages a
very bad day. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 35.)
Shroud : If you are making a shroud, avoid knots. (Wuttke,
p.f 210 ; Jew. Enc., Vol. XI, p. 601.)
Shu : Egypt. Myth. A solar deity typifying the sunlight.
In some myths, Shu and his consort Tefnut are created
by Turn, and became the parents of Seb (the earth),
and Nut (the sky), whom Shu is represented as separating.
Shuck : A Norfolk ghost ; one of a numerous family of animal
spirits (See Word-Lore, Vol. I, p. 167).
Shudder : If you shudder without any apparent cause, some-
one is walking over your grave. [Great Britain, India.)
Sickle : In Bulgaria, when a child is born, the witch brings a
reaping-hook into the room and then proceeds to rub the
infant all over with salt, and to fumigate the room in
order to drive away evil spirits from mother and child.
(St. Clair and Brophy, p. 69.)
Sickness : In the Slave Coast of Africa the mother of a sick
child believes that an evil spirit has taken possession of
the child’s body, and in order to drive him out, she makes
small cuts in the body of the sufferer and inserts green
pepper in the wounds. The poor child screams with pain,
but the mother thinks that the demon is suffering.
(Ellis. Yoruba-speaking Peoples, p. 113 sq. ; cf. Eth-
nologic du Bengale, p. 130 ; Frazer, Taboo, pp. 45 sqq. ;
id., Scapegoat, p. 139 ; Tylor, P.C., ii, 1x5, 134 ;
Doolittle, The Chinese, ii, 265 ; Howitt, Native Tribes,
pp. 356, 358 ; Skeat, p. 11 ; Marsden, Hist, of Sumatra,
p. 157 ; Roth, in North Queensland Ethnog. Bull. No. 5,
§ 116 ; Taplin, The Narrinyeri, 62 sq. ; .St. John, i, 217.)
Siddhas : Hind. Myth. A class of semi-divine beings of great
purity and holiness, who dwell in the regions of the sky
between the earth and the sun. They are said to be 88,000
in number. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 292.)
230
A DICTIONARY OF
Siegfried : The hero of the Nibelungenlied. He was brought
up in the forest bv the demoniac smith Mimir.' In his
youth he accomplished wonderful deeds, winning the
hoards of the Nibelungs, the sword Balmung, Tarnkappe,
and slaying the dragon, in whose blood he bathed himself
to make himself invulnerable. The only part of his body
which was vulnerable was a spot between his shoulders
where a leaf fell, and thus prevented from coming in
contact with the dragon’s blood. He aids Gunther to
win Brunhilde, and weds Kriemhild. Later, he is treacher-
ously slain by the fierce Hagen, who gets the hoard of
the Nibelungs and buries it in the Rhine. The widowed
Kriemhild marries Etzel, a king of the Huns, and takes
her revenge for the foul murder of Siegfried by slaying
Gunther, Hagen and all their comrades. (Karl Simrock,
Das Nibelungenlied,) Vide Mimir , Nibelungs , Balmung ,
Tarnkappe , Gunther , Brunhilde , Kriemhild , Hagen , Etzel .
Sien : Chin. Myth. Eight divine beings, living in Heaven and
said to be immortal. They were : Jung Li Kuan, Jang Go,
Lii Gfian (or Lli Dung Bin), Tsau Guo Giu, Lan Tsai Ho,
Li Tia Guai, Han Siang Dsi and Ho Sian Gu. Vide
Immortal,
Sieve : If children look at a sieve, they will suffer from a
skin disease. (Frazer, G.B2., VoL I, p. 44.) Vide Salt.
Sight : Good eyesight may be obtained by eating the flesh
of a kite.
Sigurd : The hero of the Volsunga Saga. He is reared by
Regin, slays Fafnir, is engaged to be married to Brynhild,
but after drinking of a magic potion, marries Gudrun.
He was treacherously slain by Gunnar’s brother, cf.
Siegfried .
Silene : A Phrygian deity. According to Greek mythology,
he was a jester in Olympia. He was foster-father of
Bacchus.
Silk: To dream of being dressed in silk denotes honour;
to dream you are trading in silk is an indication of profit
and joy. Vide Lumbago , Nose, Ribbon.
Silver : A Welsh witch shifts her form frequently into that
of a hare, and while in this form no shot, except a silver
coin can penetrate her body, (Rhys, C.F., p. 294.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
231
Silver Fish : A kind of insect or book-worm. In China it is
believed that if this insect gets inside a Taoist Classic and
eats certain characters, its silvery body will become five
coloured. If this five-coloured insect be subsequently
caught and eaten, the one who eats it will overcome death
. and develop into a spiritual being. (Enc. Rel . Etk., VoL
VIII, p. 261.)
Silver Fox : Chin. Folklore. These animals have the power
of influencing human beings. They are yellow, red or
white in colour ; some species of them can even learn to
speak the human language in course of time, and are known
as “ Speaking Foxes.” (Chin. Volksmarchen , p. 181.)
Sin : Babyl. Myth. A moon-god. The meaning and etymology
of the word Sin is not quite clear.
Siren : Class. Myth. One of a group of sea-nymphs, generally
represented as part woman, part bird. They were three
in number, and were supposed to frequent an island near
the coast of Italy. They lured mariners to destruction by
their enchanting singing.
Theodore de Gaza saw several sirens on board ship in
the Peloponnesian Sea, which were put back in the water.
(Landrin, Les Monstres Marins , p. 265 et sea., quoted by
Bassett, p. 169.)
cf. Parthenope , Lorelei , Nixie , Bugarik , Alrinaeh , Jal
Pari, Apsaras, Houris. .
Sisa : “ Ghost ”, The kla of the Gold Coast negroes of West
Africa becomes a sisa after death, and can remain in the
same house with the corpse, but is only visible to the
spirit-doctor. (Tylor, P.C., Vol. I, p. 402, quoting
Steinhauser.)
Sister : If two sisters are married within one year (. Altenburg ),
or on the same day (Silesia), both, or at least one of them
will be unhappy in her married life. (Wuttke, p. 206.)
Sisyphus : Gr. Myth. Son of Eolus, king of Corynthia. He is
famous for his brigandages and his cruelties. After his
death he was condemned to roll a huge stone up a mountain
in Hell. No sooner is this stone taken up to the summit,
than it rolls down again. ‘
Sita : Hind. Myth. Wife of Rama whom she accompanied on
his exile. She was stolen by the giant-king, Ravana, and,
after a bloody war, was rescued by Rama. Vide Rama ,
Ravana . .'V.V—
232 A DICTIONARY OF
Siva ; Hind. Myth. One of the gods of the Supreme Triad.
He represents the reproductive and restoring power. He
is a god of arts, especially dancing. He had a variety of
names which, according to some authors, numbered more
than one thousand.
Si Wang Mu : Chin. Myth. A fabulous being of the female
sex dwelling upon Mt. Kwen-lun at the head of the troops
of the genii, and holding from time to time intercourse
with favoured imperial votaries. (Mayers, Chin. Read.
Man., p. 191.)
Skadi, Skathi : Norse Myth. A goddess of Finnish origin,
wife of Njorth. Vide Loki.
Skogsfruar : “Wood-nymphs”; forest-spirits of Swedish folklore.
Skrimsl : “ Monster ” ; a water-spirit in Iceland.
Skrzatek : Polish Folklore. A winged creature which supplies
com, and flying about in the vicinity of houses, steals
children.
Skuld : “ Shall-be.” One of the three Norns of Scandinavian
mythology. She is the same as the Greek Atropos.
According to the Edda, she was a water-nymph. (Thorpe,
N.M., Vol. II, p. 13.)
Skull : A skull which is said to give forth piercing screams
on being removed from its usual resting place, is believed
to be preserved in a farm-house in Cornwall. (F. Marion
Crawford, Uncanny Tales ; cf. P. Sebillot, Contes et
legendes du Pays du Gouarec in Revue de Bretagne,
de Vendee et cT Anjou, XVIII, p. 60 sq. ; le Braz,
Vol. I, p. 332.) There is such a skull at Chilton Cantelo
in Somerset. (, Somerset Year Book , 1925.)
The Jivaros and Tibolo Indians of Equador pound up
and eat the skull and brains of human beings " so that
the knowledge of the dead person may be added to their
own." (Mitchell-Hedges, in Cassell's Magazine , No. 168,
March, 1926, p. 34.)
Sky : The Muhammedans believe that the sky receives its
blue tint from the reflection of the stone Sakhrat (q.v).
Slamming : The German peasantry consider it a wrong thing
to slam a door, because of the possibility of " pinching ”
a soul in it. (Wuttke.) Vide Door .
Slaughter : If you pity the animals that are being slaughtered,
it will prolong their death agony. (Silesia, Wetterau . —
Wuttke, p. 138.)
Sleep : If a girl falls asleep at work, she will marry a widower.
(Hanover. — Wuttke, p. 42.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
233
Sleeplessness : Insomnia can be cured by leaving the shoes
with the toes pointing towards the bed. (Mark, Silesia. —
Wuttke, p. 136.)
Slippers : If yon wish to forget something unpleasant, throw
a slipper over your left shoulder. (Strackerjan, Vol. I,
p. 96 ; Vol. II, p. 139.)
If you leave your slippers lying on their “ uppers,” you
are sure to have a quarrel. ” (Bengal.)
In Cornwall, a slipper with the point turned up placed
near the bed cures cramp. (Hunt, Pop. Rem., p. 409.)
cf. Shoes.
Small-pox : During a smallpox epidemic, the Japs put a
notice outside their houses to the effect that the children
are absent. This is supposed to keep out the disease.
(Griffis, M.E., p. 468.)
Fried mouse cures smallpox.
St. Martin of Tours, or, in extreme cases, Obla Bibi
(India), may be tried by those objecting to vaccination.
The Chinese make their children hideous on the last
night of the year with paper masks, so that the smallpox
demon may pass them by. (Doolittle, Vol. II, p. 316.)
Smell : If you imagine you can smell flowers, it is a sign of
death (Great Britain), or the presence of snakes in the
house (India).
Smile : A corpse with a smile on its lips, forebodes another
death in the family, cf. Eye.
Smok : A flying dragon which appears in the folklore of all
Slavic nations.
Smrtnice : Bohemian Folklore. A woman, haggard and
dressed in white, who walks beneath the windows of a
house in which someone is dying. If she sits down at the
head of the bed, all hopes of recovery are lost ; but if
at the foot, the invalid may recover, cf . Banshee, Bodachun
Dun, Corpse Candles, Aderyn y Corph, Edgewett Oak,
Death Warnings, Habergeis, Bozaloshtsh, Ahnfrau.
Snake : In some parts of the world, snakes are not killed
because they are the living homes of some “hapless
souls.”
Snakes are said to be the ancestors of some families
(India). [A trace of totemism ?]
234
A DICTIONARY OF
Snakes smell of flowers. (Haggard, When the World
Shook , Cassell’s Pop. Ed., p. 91.)
If you spit on a snake it will die.
People bitten by a snake can be cured by drinking beer
in which ash-leaves have been put (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 85.)
If you dream of snakes, it means you will receive some
bad news. (USA.— Knortz, p. 21.)
A snake seen in the house is a good omen ; it is the
guardian spirit watching over its own. ( Greece . — Lawson,
p. 328 ; Russia , Ralston, The Songs of the Russians , 1872,
PP* 175, 124.)
A snake’s skin worn round the head cures headache
(. N , Lincolnshire .)
Snakes are said to fascinate frogs, birds, etc. (Elworthy,
E.E., p. 39 et seq.)
Hindu boatmen keep venomous serpents in their boats.
If they are dull and irritable, they will not sail ; but if
they are lively and good-natured, “ it is thought a sign
of an extremely lucky voyage.’' (De Feynes, Voyage
jusqu’a la Chine , 1630, p. 207; Melusine , Jan., 1885;
Bassett, p. 430.)
Snakes are most poisonous on Thursday and Saturday
afternoons ; at these times some non-venomous snakes
become venomous. (Bengal.)
The evil effects of a snake-bite may be counteracted
by a mixture of pepper and clarified butter. (India. —
Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p. 141.)
“ In ancient Mexican temples the serpent symbol is
frequently seen. The approaches of the temple of El
Castillo, at Chichen in Yucatan, is guarded by a pair of
huge serpent heads, and a second pair protect the entrance
to the sanctuary. Figures of serpents also appear in the
mosaic relief designs of the fagades, and within the sanc-
tuary walls. So, too, in the temples of Paienque and other
Mexican towns, serpents are everywhere plentiful in the
decorations and sculptures. (Quoting Amer. Antiq.,
Vol. XVIII, 1896, p. 141) . . . Visits from snakes are
highly appreciated as auspicious events (cf . G.Georgeakis
et Leon Pineau, le Folklore de Lesbos , p. 339), and reptiles
are sure of a hospitable reception, because they are looked
upon as tutelary divinities.” (Dr. R. Lawrence, The
Magic of the Horseshoe , Boston, 1898, pp. 62 sq.).
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
235
For Snake worship among the Romans see Virgil,
Mneid, V, 84-93 ; among the Zulus and other African
tribes, Callaway, Religious System of the Amazulu,
Pt. II, pp. 140-144, 196-200, 208-212 ; J. Shooter,
The Kaffirs of Natal, p. 162 ; E. Casalis, The Basutos,
p. 246 ; F.L.J., ii (1880), pp. 101-103 ; Krant, Natur
und Kulturlehen der Zulus, p. 112 ; Dudley Kidd, The
Essential Kaffir, pp. 85-87 ; W. A. Elmslie, Among the
Wild Ngoni, pp. 71 sq. ; 0. Baumann, Usambara und
seine Nachbargebiete, pp. 141 sq. ; (Sir) H. Johnson,
The Uganda Protectorate, Vol. II, p. 832 ; A. C. Hollis,
The Masai, pp. 307 sq. ; S. L. Hinde and H. H. Hinde,
The Last of the Masai, pp. 101 sq. ; G. Schweinfurth,
The Heart of Africa, 3 ed., Vol. I, p. 55 ; A. van Gennep,
Tabou et Totemisme d Madagascar, pp. 272 sq. ; H. W.
Little, Madasgascar, its History and People, pp. 86 sq. ;
J. Roscoe, in Jour. Anthrop. Inst., Vol. XXXVII (1907) ;
Maj. J. A. Meldon, Jour. African Soc., No. XXII, p. 151 ;
Ellis, Ewe-speaking Peoples, pp. 54 sq. ; among the
Hindus, Ethnologie du Bengale, pp. 58 sq. ; Frazer,
Adonis, Vol. I, p. 81 sq.
Vide Emerald, Squirrel, Stag, Peacock, Serpent.
Snakebane : It is a kind of flower, and is believed by the
Coreans (Griffis, Corea, p. 306), and by the Indians to
keep away snakes.
Sneeze : Sneezing is due to demoniacal influence. (India. —
Crooke, P.R., Vol. I, p. 240.)
To sneeze the first thing in the morning is lucky, but
beware of sneezing the last thing at night !
If you, or another person, sneeze just as you are starting
on a journey, or on a mission, you are sure to have a
disappointment or to fail.
If a person sneezes on another’s back, he immediately
pinches the back in order to minimize the evil effects.
{India. — Crooke, op. c.it., I, 240.)
If you sneeze in the middle of a statement, it is a
sign that you are telling the truth. (Abbott, p. 1x3 ;
Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 31.)
To sneeze three times is most unlucky. (Tylor, P.C.,
Vol. I, p. 97 ; Bassett, p. 434.)
If you sneeze when I speak, it shows that I am right
■{Turkestan.— Schuyler, Vol. II, p. 29.)
At Raratonga sneezing is said to be caused by the soul
, returning to the body. (W. Gill, Myths and Songs from,
the South Pacific, p. 177.) 4
A DICTIONARY OF
Sneezing is considered to be a call of death ; therefore
the middle finger and the thumb are snapped as a charm.
Sneezing with the face towards the West is considered
auspicious, but sneezing while at work is inauspicious.
{India. — Jackson, F.L.N., VoL II, p. 54 sq.)
“ Once a wish,
Twice a kiss,
Thrice a disappointment,
Four times a letter,
Five times something better.”
Popular Rhyme [Great Britain .)
If you want to sneeze and cannot, it is a sign that
someone loves you but does not dare to tell it. ( Boston . —
Bergen, C.S., p. 63.)
Sneezing indicates that absent enemies are speaking
about you. (. Macedonia . — Abbott, p. 113.)
“ Sneeze on Monday, sneeze for danger,
Sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger,
Sneeze on Wednesday, receive a letter,
Sneeze on Thursday, something better,
Sneeze on Friday, sneeze for sorrow,
Sneeze on Saturday, see your true love to-morrow,
Sneeze on Sunday, your safety seek,
Or the devil will have you for the rest of the week.”
Crown Point. (Bergen, C.5., p. 145 ; cf . Hazlitt, p. 554.)
When sneezing, an evil spirit is expelled from the body.
(Tylor, P.C., Vol. I, p. 97 ; Lang, Custom and Myth ,
p. 14.) A modern German says “ Wohl sein ! ” or “ Gesund -
heit! ” if anyone sneezes in his presence.
The act of sneezing has found different interpretations
in different countries at different times. The super-
stitions connected with sneezing in England at the time
of Queen Elizabeth (" Burghley Papers ,” Lansdowne
MSS., No. 121 in the British Museum, London ; Twelfth
Annual Report of the Thirteenth Club of New York , January,
1894 ; Lawrence, Magic of the Horseshoe , pp. 212-214)
were as follows :
I. Yf any man talk with another about any matter and
snese twice or iiij times, let him by and by arise, yf he
sett, or yf he be stand, let him move himself and go
straightaway without any stays about his business, for
he shall prosper.
II. Yf he snese more than iiij times, let him staye,
for it is doubtful how he shall spede.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
237
III. Yf a man snese one or iij times, let Mm procede
no further in any matter, but let all alone, for it shall
come to nought.
IV. Yf two men do snese both at one instant, yt is a
good syne, and let them go about their purpose, yf that
it be either by water or land, and they shall prosper.
V. To snese twyse is a good syne, but to snese once or
iij times is an yll syne. Yf one'* come suddenly into the
house and snese one tyme, yt is a good syne.
VI. One snese in the nyght season made by any of
the household betokeneth good luck to ye house, but yf
he make two sneses, yt sygnifieth domage.
VII. Trewe yt is that he who snesith takith pte
(= part) of the signification in this condition, and that
he pte some pte with other.
VIII. Yf that any man snese twyse iij nyghtes to-
gether, yt is a tokyn that one of the house shall dye, or
els some greatt goodness or badness shall happen in the
house.
IX. Yf a man go to dwell in a house and snese one
time, lett him dwell there, but 3d he snese twyse, lett
him not tarry, neither lett him dwell therein.
X. Yf a man lye awake in the bedde and snese one
tyme, yt is a syne of greatt sickness or hyndraunce.
XL Yf a man sleape in his bedde and snese one tyme,
yt betokeneth greatt trouble, the death of some person or
extreme hyndraunce in the loss of substance.
XII. Yf a man lye in his bedde and make a snese one
tyme, yt is a good syne both of health and lucre, but yf
he sleape yt is moche better.
XIII. Yf a man snese twyse three nyghtes together,
yt is a good syne whatsover he go about.
XIV. Yf a man travell by ye ways and come to an
Inne and snese twyse, lett him depart out of ye house and
go on another, or els he shall not prosper.
XV. Yf a man go forthe to seke worke and lay hands
of yt and then snese one tyme, lett him depart, leaving
his work behind him, and seke worke elsewhere, and so
shall do well ; but yf he snese twyse lett him take his
worke and go on further.
XVI. Yf a man, after he haue made a bargayne with
another for anytMng and then snese one tyme, yt s)?gni-
fieth that Ms bargayne will not continue.
238
A DICTIONARY OF
XVII. Yf a man rise betymes on a Monday mornyng
out of his bedde and snese o"ne tyme, vt is a tokyn that
he shall prosper and gayne all that week, or haue some
other joye and comoditie.
XVIII. But yf he snese twyse, yt is cleane contrarie.
XIX. Yf a man lose a horse or anything els, and is
stopping out of his dore to seek yt, he snese one time, yt
is a tokyn he shall haue yt agayne.
XX. Yf a man rise betymes on Sonday and snese ii
tymes, yt is a good tokyn, but 3d he snese one tyme, yt
is an y'll tokyn.
XXI. Yf a man at ye very beginning of a dinner or
supper be minded to eat, and do snese twyse, 3d is a good
tokyn. but yf he snese one tyme, yt is an yll syne.
XXII. Yf a man lye sicke in bedde and mistrusts
himself, and snese one tyme, yt is a tokyn of deathe, but
yf he snese twyse, he shall escape.
XXIII. A woman being very sicke, 3d she snese one
tyme, yt is a syne of health, but yf she snese twyse, she
shall dye.
Snorting : The snorting of a horse while on a journey prog-
nosticates good luck. (The Kirghiz. — Schuyler, Vol. II,
p. 29.)
Snow : Snow is caused by witches. (Lehmann, A.Z., p. in.)
Snuffing : In China, it is said that the snuffing by a cat or a
dog will partly revive a corpse. (Chin. Volksmarchen,
p. 202.)
cf. Breath.
Sodomy : In Persia and in China, sodomy is superstitiously
believed to he a cure for venereal diseases. (Krafft-Ebing,
Psychopathia Sexualis, Eng. tr., p. 405.)
Soham : A monster with the head of a horse, four eyes and
the body of a fiery dragon.
Sokkvabek : Norse Myth. The abode of Saga, the seeress in
Asgard.
Sokotsu-wata-dzumi : Jap. Myth. “ The bottom-sea-body.”
The chief sea-god of Shintoism. He, Nakatsu-wata-dzumi,
“ middle-sea-body ” and Uhatsu-wata-dzumi, “ upper-sea-
body ” were produced from Izanagi’s ablutions in the sea.
They are represented as forming one deity, and are much
prayed to for safety from shipwrecks and for fair winds.
Soldier : Vide War.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
239
Sole : According to a Russian story, the sole owes its shape
to the fact that the queen of the Baltic ate one half of it,
and threw the other back. (Ralston, Russian Folklore ,
P- 33°-)
Some say, it was restored to life, after half of it had
been eaten, by the angel Gabriel. (Bassett, p. 257.)
Somnambulism : Diamond produces somnambulism.
Song : Nixies and maras are said to have the power of singing
enchantingly.
Singing in bed before getting up is unlucky. {Great
Britain ; cf. Laphin, in L‘ Intrasigeant, No." 17, 185,
24th August, 1927, p. 2.)
If a girl sings while at meals, she will have a drunkard
for her husband ( Silesia . — Wuttke, p. 43), orit will bring
ill luck ( Great Britain), or poverty {Paris, Laphin, ib.)
If you sing at the table, you will have a disappoint-
ment {U.S.A.).
“ Sing in the street,
Disappointment you’ll meet.” U.S.A.
In Wales it is said that persons on the point of dying
can hear a melodious voice singing in the air. (Owen,
P- 305 sq.)
Soot : Flakes of soot hanging from the bars of a grate foretell
the introduction of a stranger.
A volume of soot suddenly coming down the chimney-
promises a letter or money.
Sophia's Picture : Sophia’s picture, given to Mathias, turned
yellow if the giver was in danger or in temptation, and
black if she could not escape from the danger, or if she
yielded to the temptation. (Massinger, 1629.) cf.
Bahman’s Knife , Canace's Mirror , Alasnam's Mirror ,,
FlorimeVs Girdle , Ring , Bertha's Emerald.
Soreness : Sore eyes can be cured by putting a spider in a.
nut-shell, and wearing it round the neck. (Mark —
Wuttke, p. 165.)
St. Blaise when he was put to death, prayed that if
any person suffering from a sore throat invoked his aid,
he might be God’s instrument in effecting a perfect cure.
Vide Spider, Amber .*
Soul : The Tyrolese peasants believe that a good man’s soul
issues from his mouth at death like a little white cloud
(Wuttke).
In India the soul of a saint is said to leave the body
in the form of a miniature radiant being.
24°
A DICTIONARY OF
Among the ancient Romans, the nearest kinsmen knelt
over to inhale the last breath of the departing.
At the death of Julius Caesar, a little animal, his soul,
was seen to come out of his mouth.
Among the Seminoles of Florida, when a woman died
in childbirth, the infant was held over her face to receive
her parting spirit. (Frazer, G.B 2., Vol. I, pp. 247 sq.)
In Japan the soul is said to be a small, round, black
body, and is capable of having adventures apart from the
body. (Griffis, M.E., p. 472.)
The Ghost-Man of the natives of the Slave Coast of
Africa continues its existence after death, and corresponds
to our soul (Ellis, The Ewe-speaking Peoples , pp. 105 sq.).
The Q5r'an ( Sura XXXIX) says : “ God takes to
Himself the souls of men at their death ; and He takes
also to Himself the souls of those who do not die, while
they sleep. He keeps with Himself the souls of those
whose death He has ordained, but the others he sends
back for a season. Truly herein lie signs for thoughtful
men to ponder/'
cf . Ethnologic du Bengale, pp. 88, 89, quoting Gregor,
p. 206 ; Frazer, in Folklore Journal , Vol. Ill, p. 282 ;
id., Taboo and the Perils of the Soul; On Certain Burial
Customs , Journ. Anthrop. Inst., Vol. XV, p. 66; id.,
G.B2., Vol. I, p. 204 ; Rhys, Celtic Folklore , p. 601 ; Le
Braz, Vol. I, p. 214 ; Lady Wilde, p. 139 ; Revue Celtique ,
Vol. XII, p. 425 ; Spencer and Gillen, Native Tribes of
Australia , pp. 497, 508 ; Budge, Book of the Dead , Vol. I,
p. Ixii ; Lord in Roth, Vol. I, p. 217 ; Graafland, Die
Inset Rote , Mitteil. d. geogr. Gesells. zu Jena, VIII, p. 168 ;
Meijmering, Zeeden en gewoonten ... in Tijdsch. v.
Nederl. Indie, VI, p. 363 ; Hertz, la Representation
collective de la wort, Annee Sociol., Vol. X, p. 59 ; Jelling-
hans, Sagen , Sitten und Gebrduche der Munda Kolhs,
Zeitschr. f . Ethnologie, Vol. Ill (1871), p. 374 ; M. Granet,
La religion des Chinois , Paris, 1922, pp. 165 sq. ; Tylor, P.C.,
Vol. I, p. 407 ; id., Early History of Mankind, Vol. I, p. 358 ;
Crooke, Pop. ReL, Vol. I,'p. 280; Durkheim, Elementary
Forms of Religious Life , p. 242 ; Kraft, Travels ... in
East Africa , p. 150 ; E.R.E , § Demonology.
Soup : Plenty of soup eaten slowly promotes long life.
Sow : Vide Pig.
Sparks : If sparks from a burning log are thrown out into the
room, troubles and anxieties must be expected. ( Greece . —
Lawson, p. 328.) Vide Death Omens.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
241
Sparrow : The chirping of sparrows portends much rain or
snowfall (Abbott, p. in), or wet weather. (Inwards,
Weather Lore , p. 168.)
Speak : If a person appears just as you are speaking about
him, it is a sign that he will live long. (Great Britain ,
India.)
If you forget in the middle of your speech what you
wished to say, you are telling a lie.
If two persons say the same thing at the same time,
they will have a fulfilment of their desire, provided that
they wish before another word is spoken.
In folktales all animals can speak.
Speaking Foxes : Vide Silver Foxes.
Spectre : An apparition, phantom, ghost, especially one of
a terrifying nature or aspect.
Speed : Speed can be acquired by partaking of the flesh of
a kite. cf. Sight.
Sphinx : An animal with the body of a lion and the head of
a human being, which, according to the Egyptians repre-
sented the sun. The ancient Greeks endowed the sphinx
with mysterious powers and introduced it into their mytho-
logy. It is said that in the time of (Bdipus, a sphinx
used to stop passers-by on their way to Thebes, and put
certain enigmas to them ; if they could not answer these
enigmas, they were devoured by the monster. It asked
CEdipus the following : Quel est V animal qui marche d
quatre pieds le matin , d deux pieds d midi et d trois le soir ?
(Edipus recognized the symbol of infancy, youth and
senility in this riddle. The sphinx furious at this, threw
itself into the sea, and was never seen any more. {Petit
Larousse Illusive , p. 1602.)
Spider : The Mohammedans will never kill a spider, because
they say that when Mohammed was flying from his
enemies, he hid himself in a cave, and a spider spun its
web over the entrance in order to give it an unsuspicious
appearance. A lizard pointed Mohammed out to his
followers.
There are no spiders in Ireland, because St. Patrick
cleared the island of all vermin.
No spider will spin its web on an Irish oak.
A spider enclosed in a quill and hung round the neck
will cure the ague ; in cases of sore-eye or fever, it may be
enclosed in a nut-shell and treated likewise.
242 A DICTIONARY OF
The bite of a spider is venomous ; they envenom what-
ever they touch.
Spiders will never set their webs on a cedar, roof.
Spiders spin only on dark days, and have a natural
antipathy for toads ; they indicate where gold is to be
found.
“ Une araignee au matin, c’est du chagrin,
Une araignee au midi, c’est du plaisir,
Une araignee au soir, c’est de l’espoir.”
Vide Money, Spider, Soreness, Arachne.
Spindle : In Italy, women were forbidden by law to walk on
the high roads twirling a spindle, because this was sup-
posed to injure the crops. (Frazer, G.B2., Vol. II, p. 461
note ; Pliny, Nat. Hist., XXVIII, 28.)
Spinning : Women in childbed should not spin, lest they spin
a halter for the baby. ( Franken . — Wuttke, p. 196.)
Vide St. Matthew’s Day.
Spinster : Vide Last Piece, Tea, Godfather.
Spirit : A supernatural, incorporeal, rational being or person-
ality, usually regarded as imperceptible at ordinary times
to the human senses, but capable of becoming visible
at will, and frequently conceived as troublesome, terrible
or horrible to mankind.
“ It faded on the crowing of the cock.”
Shakespeare, Hamlet, I, i.r
Vide Midnight.
Spitting : If you spit on the first money received during the
; . day, you will have more. (Great Britain, India, Germany.
— Wuttke, pp. 80, 186 ; cf. Hazlitt, p. 560 sq.)
Cattle will thrive if you spit on their food. {Mark,
Silesia. — ib.)
Great virtue is and was always believed to belong to
fasting spittle, both as curative and protective. (El-
worthy, E.E., p. 418, quoting Herrick, Hesperides,
“The Temple.”
In Macedonia, spitting is considered a great precaution
against disease. (Abbott, p. no.)
The Arabs believe that human saliva can cure a multi-
tude of diseases ; further they will spit upon a lock which
cannot easily be opened. (Doughty, Arab. Des., Vol. I,
p. 226.) Vide Saliva, Hair.
Splashing : If a girl splashes herself while washing clothes, it
• : , forebodes that her husband will be a drunkard. (Str acker-
i . jan, Vol. I, p. 45 ; Great Britain, U.S.A .)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
243
Sp^gelse : A common name in Denmark for the Bulderbasse
or the Poltergeist.
Spot : If you accidentally make some ink-spots while writing,
, it is an omen of good luck.
[ In West Highland superstition, a beauty-spot cannot
be resisted, hence Diarmaid inspired masterless love by
his beauty-spot. Vide Nail .
Spriggan : In Cornwall these were certain demons said to
1 guard treasures. (Hunt, Pop. Rem., p. 81.)
Sprite : Same as spirit ; in ordinary language it denotes an
elf.
Squint : It is very unlucky to meet a man who squints.
| (Elworthy, E.E., p. 32, 417.)
I Squirrel : Squirrels are so charmed by snakes that they fall
I an easy prey to them. Vide Ratatosk .
Saints : (See also under the first names of the saints.)
St. Alfonso di Liguori : He is believed to have had the power
of preaching in church and confessing penitents at home
4 at the same time. (J. Gardner, Faiths of the World.)
Vide Bilocation .
St. Ambrose : When St. Ambrose died on Easter Eve, several
newly-baptized children claimed to have seen the holy
bishop, and pointed him out to their parents, but these
with their less pure eyes could not see him (Calmet).
St. Ammonius : St. Anthony saw the soul of St. Ammonias
carried to heaven by a company of angels, the same day
J the holy man died at a distance of five days' journey in
J the desert of Nitria.
I St. Dunstan : St. Dunstan’s harp discoursed most enchanting
j music without being struck by any player, cf. Teirtus '
| Harp ,
I St. John : The first words of the Gospel of St. John have always
I been held of great virtue when carried on a person. These
| should be written upon virgin parchment, enclosed in a
goose-quill an hour before sunrise on the first Sunday in.
the year. (Thiers, Traite des Sup., Vol. I, p. 414 ;
Elworthy, E.E., p. 400.)
I On May 16, St. John Nepomuc is honoured in Magyar
lands, by throwing his image in the Danube, while people
follow in boats, playing musical instruments, etc. (. Magyar
Folklore in “ Notes and Queries," 27 Dec., 1883 ; Bassett,.
p* 415.)
A DICTIONARY OF
244
St. John’s Eve : Folklore. It is believed that fasting watchers
may, on this day, see the apparitions of those doomed to
die during the year come with the ministers to the church-
door and knock. These apparitions are the souls which
come forth from their bodies. (Tylor, P.C., Vol. I,
p. 440 ; Rhys, Vol. I, p. 329.)
St. Matthew’s Day (24th February) : If you spin on this day,
it will go ill with the geese. (East Prussia. — Wuttke,
p. 21.)
Stag : Stags draw serpents from their holes by their breath,
and then trample them to death.
A wound from a stag's horn never heals.
A stag's horn gives warning of the evil e}/e and is a
safeguard against its malignant influences [Spain).
Stair : To pass another on the stairs is unlucky.
If while coming down the stairs you fall down, it fore-
bodes some misfortune ; but if you stumble while going
up, it promises a wedding.
Star : The Esthonians believe that if anyone sees a falling
star on New Year's night, he will die or be visited by some
serious illness that year. (Boecler-Kreutzwald, p. 73 ;
Frazer, G.B 2., Vol. II, p. 22.)
If you point to a star, your finger will get fixed in that
position. (Strackerjan* Vol. I, p. 44.)
If a shooting star takes a direction towards some
particular house, it is a sign that someone will die therein
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 23 ; Elworthy, E.E., p. 424.)
A shooting star denotes the birth of a child ( Great Britain ,
India ; cf. W. Ellis, Polynesian Researches 2; iii, 171.)
The Moors say that shooting stars are missiles hurled
by God at evil spirits to make them desist from trying to
reach heaven. (Meakin, The Moors , p. 353 ; Lane,
Mod . Egypt., Ch. X ; C. Velten, Sitten u. Gebrduche der
Suaheli , p. 339 sq.)
When you see the first star, wish for something and say
“ Star light, star bright,
First star I see to-night,
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish to-night "
and your wish will come to pass provided of course, that
you do not divulge it to anyone. [Eastern Massachusetts. —
Bergen, C.S. , p. 69.)
When you see a shooting star, the wish you form before
its disappearance will be fulfilled. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 280.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
245
In Ruthenia a shooting star is looked upon as the track
I of an angel flying to receive a departed spirit, or of a
I righteous soul going up to heaven. In the latter case,,
j if a wish be uttered at the moment the star shoots by, it
I will go straight up with the rejoicing spirit to the throne
of God. So when a star falls the Servians say : “ Some-*
one's light has gone out," meaning someone is dead*
(Ralston, Songs of the Russian People , p. 116.)
“ It is then (6th century b.c.) that we find stars wor-
shipped in particular cities and that the twelve signs of
the Zodiac were believed to control the destinies of states.
Particular stars or groups of stars were worshipped in
the supposed causes of fires and such-like calamities.
... In 540 b.c. there is a more detailed account of the
same worship in the Tso chwen, and at the same time,
in Kwo Yu , we find abundant proof that the Chinese
then believed that the various baronies of China were
all controlled by particular stars ” ( China Review , XIII,
416-418, quoted by Benoy Kumar Sarcar, Chinese
Religion through Hindu Eyes , Shanghai, 1918, p. 62).
For other superstitions about shooting stars and meteors,
I see Frazer, The Dying God , London, 1920, pp. 60-68.
Stepping over a Child : If you step over a child it will stop
growing ( Jews of Kiev ; Virginia . — Bergen, C.S., p. 23) ;
| to make it resume growing, repeat the action ( Jews of
I Galicia , India, some parts of England. cf. Sckiffer,
j Urquell, VI, hi.)
| Stheno : Gr. Myth. One of the Gorgons,
| Stihija : A Bulgarian household-spirit in the form of a snake
| also called Tolosom.
v Stija : Bulgarian Folklore. A class of water-spirits. They are
remarkable for their long hair, which they sometimes
employ to choke those who fall into their power.
*, Stocking : To put the left stocking on first denotes ill luck,
t but putting the right one on first protects the wearer
I from rheumatism. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 18.)
| To put on a pair of stockings with the wrong side out
\ is lucky, provided you do not change (Chambers, Book
* of Days, Vol. II, p. 321 ; Abbott, p. 144 ; Ethnologic
du Bengale, p. 124).
The wife is recommended to carry a piece of her hus-
band’s stockings or girdle as a safeguard against premature
: birth. (Wuttke, p. 195.)
246
A DICTIONARY OF
“ Wear at the toe,
Spend as you go ;
Wear at the heel,
Spend a good deal ;
Wear at the side,
You'll be a rich bride ;
Wear at the ball,
You'll live to spend all."
— U.S.A.
Vide Hoarseness , Throatache.
Stomach : If you stir drinks with a knife, you will have a
stomach ache. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49.)
Stones : Stones grow on the earth as long as they are not
touched by hand ; they receive nourishment through a
“ vein " by which they are joined to the earth. (Stracker-
jan, Vol. II, p. 71.)
To find a perforated stone is a presage of good luck.
(See Spencer, Pr . of Sociology , i, 310 sq.)
In India (Crooke, Islam in India , p. 241), and in East
Africa (C. W. Hobley, J.R.A.I. , XLI, 432f), it is believed
that throwing stones is a common habit of some mis-
chievous devils.
Engraved stones with short sentences on them are worn
by the Chinese women and children, and are supposed
to have great efficacy in preventing evil. (Williams,
M.K., Vol. II, p. 256.)
“ Meeting anyone carrying stones, bringing a bride, or
an animal under yoke, or anyone suffering from goitre,
means mischief and loss ; the king of devils will injure
your familiar good spirit ; so spit at him ! " (Tibet. —
Waddell, p. 136.)
On Christmas Eve, put a stone on every tree and they
will bear more fruit. (Ragner.)
Stones, Sepulchral : Pregnant women either sit on, or slide
down them to ensure an easy delivery ; unmarried girls
do the same to procure a husband. (Berenger-F£raud,
Vol. I, p. 529 ff ; T. A. Trollope, A Summer in Brittany ,
(Lond. 1840), II, 229 ; W. C. Borlase, The Dolmens of
Ireland (Lond. 1897), II, 841.)
Stork : It is unlucky to kill a stork.
A stork flying over a house promises an addition to the
family (Silesia. — Wuttke, p. 32.)
Perfect health can be obtained by drinking the blood
of a stork.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 247
According to a Swedish legend a stork fluttered round
the cross of Jesus crying : Styrke ! Styrke 1 (Strengthen
ye ! Strengthen ye !), and was hence called the styrk or
stork, but ever after lost its voice.
Storm : Storms are caused by demons. ( Slavic countries ;
cf. Lehmann, A. Z., p. n£)
A storm may be caused by whistling.
When pigs run grunting home a storm is impending.
St. Barbara may be invoked to abate storms.
According to the Edda, Giants and Giantesses caused
storms. (Grimm, Teut. Myth., Vol. II, p. 637.)
If a storm breaks out while a grave is still open, it is
a sign that the deceased has led a wicked life, and has sold
his soul to the devil. (Gregor, p. 214.)
In North Wales, thunder and storm presage the death
of an important personage in the parish. ( Archaeologia
Cambrensis, 1872, p. 333.)
In the Gulf of Camero, storms and hurricanes were
caused by sorcerers, who, when offended, kindled great
fires in caverns, causing the enraged earth to send forth
their storms. (Jones, Credulities, p. 72 ; Bassett, p. 104.)
Vide Meal, Cat, Deo, Whistling, Menstruation, Sea, Por-
poise, Cuttlefish, Shony, Hedgehog, Mirror.
Stranger : Unless a dead man is watched by someone from
another town, his soul will not rest in peace. (F. Marion
Crawford, A Roman Singer, Ch. XIII.) Vide Nose,
M agpie, Soot.
Straw : If a person succeeds in getting hold of a mara (q v.), he
will find only a piece of straw in his hand. If this piece
of straw be nailed to the wall, or otherwise made fast,
the mara will be compelled to show herself next night
(Wuttke, p. 123), or the next morning in her true form,
(cf . Grimm, D.M. ; Thorpe, North. Myth ; Tylor, P C. ;
SXRACKERJAN, etc.)
If while sweeping the room, you find a piece of straw,
it is a sign that someone will shortly pay you a visit
{Germany).
It is unlucky to see a load of straw.
It is a bad omen to find two pieces of straw crossed in
one’s path. ( Westphalia , Rhineland.— Wuttke, p. 35.)
Straw was once a powerful means of bewitching one’s
neighbour. Getting possession of the straw was said to
carry with it possession of everything belonging to the
other man. (Rhys, C.F., p. 345.)
248 A DICTIONARY OF
Straw Road : This is the Persian and Syrian name for the
Galaxy, who compare it with their lanes littered with
morsels of straw that fall from the nets they carry it in*
Stream : “ The modern Albanian still sees the stain of slaughter
in streams running red with earth, as to the ancient Greeks
the river that flowed by Byblos bore down its summer
floods the red blood of Adonis/1 (Tylor, P.C., Vol. I,
p- 3670
Strength : Hair is the seat of a person's strength. (Frazer,
The Magic Art , Vol. I, pp. 102, 344.)
If you carry about with you a piece of wood chipped
off by lightning, you will be strong. {Bohemia. — Groh-
mann, p. 40.) Vide Sacrifice , Hair , Topaz , Elephant ,
Thunder , Haircutting , Lion, Lightning , Ash Wednesday *
Striges ; In Modern Greece they are usually confused with
the Lamiae (q.v.) because of their taste for blood, which
they share with those demons. In reality, striges are
women who possess the power to transform themselves,
into birds of prey and other animals. (Lawson, 179.)
String : It is unlucky to burn string [Great Britain , India.)
Stringed Instrument : The Elle-women are said to be capable
of playing most enchantingly on stringed instruments.
(Thiele, Danmarks Folkesagn.)
Stromkarl : “ River-man." In Norway it is the name of the
spirit of the water-fall ; in Sweden it is any water-spirit.
Stumbling : The Moors believe that if a person stumbles in.
the dark, the reason for it may be that he has trod on a
Jinn (q.v.). (Westermarck, The Belief in Spirits in-
Morocco, p. 15.)
Among the Kirghiz, the stumbling or the snorting of a
horse while on a journey is a prognostication of good luck.
(Schuyler, Vol. II, p. 29.)
Sturgeon : The sturgeons of the Yellow River, in China, make-
an ascent of the stream in the third moon of each year,
when those which succeed in passing above the rapids of
the Lung Men (“ Dragon Gate ”) become transformed into
dragons. (Mayers, Chin. Read. Man., p. 320.)
Stuttering : Children who are allowed to look at themselves,
in the mirror before they are a year old become stutterers,
cf. Tickling .
Sty : A sty on the eye can be effectually cured by rubbing it
with a wedding ring. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 83.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
249:
Styx : Gr. Myth. The river which surrounded the infernal
region seven times, and separated the world of the living
from the world of the dead. cf. Vaiiarini.
Siibeh : The Siibeh of Syrian superstition is a demon " in the
; shape of a fabulous animal or as a woman with coarse
hair on her head, immense eyes, and long pendent breasts/*
(Westermarck, The Belief in Spirits in Morocco , p. 149,
quoting von Kremer, Studien iii-iv, 34 sq.f Snouck
; Hurgronje, ii, 123 sq.)
Succubus : In the Middle Ages this was a demon in female
form ; she was supposed to have carnal intercourse with
men in their sleep.
“For forty years, he (Benedict of Berne) had kept up
an amatory commerce with a succubus, called Plermeline. * *
C. K. Sharpe, Law's Memorialls, Pref., p. xx (1818)
cf. Incubus, Cuichi Supai, Tultilu Supai.
Suckle ; German Folklore. The dead mother comes back again
I during the night to suckle her infant she has left behind
on earth.
I' ^
I Suddenness : St. Martin saves from sudden deaths.
Sudidky : Bohemian Folklore. The three white women who
j come to a room where a child is born and decide its future.
' They are the three goddesses (?) of fate. (Grohmann, p. 7.)
S cf. Fates , Norn , Parcae , Bidhdtdpurusha , Hathor .
! Sugar : If a pregnant woman puts sugar on the window-sill,
she will give birth to a baby girl. [Bohemia.)
Sugar is put in the mouth of an infant the first time it
enters the house of a stranger. (Dalyell, Dark. Sup,,
p. 96 ; cf. E. Chavannes, Documents sur les Tou-Kiue
. ( Turcs ) Occidentaux, p. 134 ; Frazer, Magic Art , i, 157.)
1 Suhijini : Sand has been deified under this name in Japan.
Suicide : The spirits of those who have committed suicide
I cannot rest; thev must haunt the place where the
| crime was committed (East Prussia, Silesia .- — Wuttke,
l p. 217 ; Great Britain , France , Bohemia , India , Japan,)
1 It is a recognized practice in Modern China for widows
I to commit suicide, in order to accompany their husbands
I to the spirit world ; this is sometimes even performed in
f public. (See De Groot, Religious System of China,
I Vol. II, Bk. I, pp. 720 sqq,) '
■ The body of a suicide does not sink. (Gregor, p. 208.)
1 • If a pregnant woman walks over a suicide's grave, she
I will have a miscarriage, (ibid., p. 215.)
250
A DICTIONARY OF
Epilepsy can be cured by drinking out of the skull of a
suicide. (G. Henderson, Survivals in Belief among the
Celts , p. 302.)
If the body of a suicide be buried in view of the sea*
herrings will not be caught. (Campbell, Sup. Scot
Highly p. 243.)
cf. Safi, Horse, Camel.
Suitengu : Jap. Myth. An obscure deity who is worshipped
in Tokio at the present day as a protector against the*
perils of the sea, burglary, and the pains of parturition.
Sumeru : Hind. Myth. A mountain ; the abode of Indra and
his consort.
Sun : There is a " bird with three legs/" or a spirit, in the sun.
(Mayers, Chin. Read . Man., p. 81.)
In India, it is believed that girls may be impregnated
by the sun. (Frazer, The Golden Bough2, Vol. II, p. 234;
Hartland, Legend of Perseus, Vol. I, pp. 99, 138, 170;
Crooke, P.R.L, Vol. I, p. 11 ; Ethnologic du Bengale
p. 66.) Vide Moon , Virgin .
Sunday : Of all the days in the week, Sunday is the luckiest.
It is unlucky to cut nails, or hair, on a Sunday.
Children born on a Sunday have the gift of foresight,,
and if they be christened on a Sunday too, spirits, though
invisible to others, will be visible to them at all times.
(Wuttke, p. 10.)
“ Sunday's child is fair of face,
Monday's child is full of grace ;
Tuesday's child is full of woe,
Wednesday’s child has far to go ;
Thursday's child has much to borrow,
Friday's child is full of sorrow ;
Saturday's child must beg for its living
And never have rest night and morning."
Popular Rhyme [Great Britain.)
Sura : Hind. Myth. Wine or spirituous liquor personified as.
Sura-devi, a goddess or nymph who was produced at the
churning of the ocean.
Surabhi : Hind. Myth. “ The cow of plenty " was produced
■ at the churning of the ocean. It granted every desire*
and is reverenced as the fountain of milk and curds.
(Dowson, H.C.D. , p. 209.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
251
Susa no wo : Jap. Myth. A god of Rain-storm, who provides
mankind with useful trees. He and his wife are regarded
as gods of wedlock. He was at first appointed to rule the
sea, but after his mother Izanami’s death, preferred to
join her in Yomi (Hades). (Aston, Shinto, pp. 17, 24.)
Susan, St. : Vide Chastity, Defilement, Infamy.
Sut : Moham. Myth. Son of Iblis, a jinn who suggests lies.
(Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p. 521.)
Swallow : It is unlucky to kill a swallow.
Swallows forecast bad weather by flying low, and fine
weather by flying high.
If a swallow builds its nest on a house, it is sure to
bring good luck.
Swallows spend the winter underground.
The swallow is said to bring home from the sea-shore
a stone which gives sight to her fledglings.
If you turn the money in your pocket the first time you
see a swallow in spring, you will never be short of funds.
(Thuringia, Silesia. — W uttke, p. 177.)
Witches are said to be incapable of assuming the form
of swallows. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 327.)
According to a Scandinavian legend, the swallow hovered
over the cross of Christ crying Svale ! Svale ! (Cheer up 1
Cheer up !), and hence it received the name of Svale or
Swallow, “the bird of consolation.”
Swallows forewarn miseries and unnatural wars by
fighting against one another. (Alexander Ross, Arcana
Microcosmi, p. 219.)
If a woman accidentally treads on swallows’ eggs
lying on the ground, she will be barren. (Ploss, Das Weib ,
Vol. I, p. 508.)
cf. Robin, Stork, Dove, Peewit, Plover, Lamb, Philomele .
Swan : Swans cannot hatch without a crack of thunder.
Swans retire from observation when about to die,
and sing most melodiously ; hence the expression “ Swan-
song.” Vide Cygnus, Red Swan.
Swan Maiden : In mythology these are elves or fairies capable
of becoming maidens or swans at will by donning or doffing a
magic garment, the Swan-shift, orcovering of swan’sfeathers.
The Norse and German literature constantly make
mention of swan-maidens “ who fly through the air, come
swimming along to bring tidings, or through putting aside
their swan-shifts have come into the power of him who
has taken it away.” (de la Saussaye.) (See Grimm,
DM. ; Hartland, Science of Fairy Tales.)
A DICTIONARY OF
252
Swarth ; The Cumberland name for a “ waff.”
Swastika : A mystical religious mark placed upon persons or
things, and thought to be a charm or a talisman. It is
a sign of good luck and benediction. It is in the. form of
a Greek cross with the ends bent round (y^). (Elworthy,
E.E.} p. 289.)
Swearing : Jack-o’-Lanterns can be driven away by swearing
at them ; praying has no effect on them. (cf. Wuttke
for Germany, Jones for Wales, Thorpe for Northern
Countries.)
Sweeping : If you throw sweepings out of the room at night,
you run the risk of dying. (Jews of Galicia . — Jew, Enc.,
Vol. XI, p. 601.)
The Japs never sweep a house immediately after one
of the inmates has set out on a journey ; this would sweep
out all the luck with him. (Griffis, M.E., p. 467.)
If sweepings be left accumulated in a corner of the
room, a female spirit, called Kiine, is sure to take up
its abode there, cf. Ethnologic du Bengale , pp. 100 sq)
It is lucky to see a sweeper the first thing on getting up
in the morning. [Great Britain and India)
Sweet Flag : Leaves of the sweet flag (x\corns) and Artemisia
tied in a bundle, and placed near beds drive away demons.
[China, — Williams, M,K,y Vol. II, p. 255.)
Sweetheart : If a man dreams of his sweetheart and she is
fairer than usual, she is chaste and constant, but if pale,
black and sickly, she has broken her faith.
Swiftness : Vide Kite,
Swine : To meet a herd of swine at the beginning of a journey
is an omen of ill luck. (Wuttke, p. 32.) Vide Pig.
Swinging : “ The custom of swinging has been practised as
a religion or rather magical rite in various parts of the
world. . . . People appear to have resorted to the practice
from different motives and with different ideas of the
benefit to be derived from it,” (Frazer, G.B2.y Vol. II,
PP- 449-456.)
Sycamore : Sycamore was sacred to Horus. (Wiedemann,
Legend of the Winged Sun-Disk) cf. Acacia .
Sylph : Celt, and Teut. Myth. The sylphs are the elves of the
air, and are the most developed among them. They are
of a human form, and are usually of a beautiful colour,
which reminds one of opal. They have more intelligence
than other elves.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
253
T
Table s You will never have a husband if you sit at the corner
of the table.
Lie down on the table and you will die within a year.
(. Mattawamkeag , Me.)
In modem spiritualism three-legged tables are used
extensively for table-rapping.
Table of Emerald :
“ Deep . . . under yonder pyramid, has for ages,
lain concealed the Table of Emerald, on which the
thrice-great Hermes engraved, before the flood, the
secret of alchemy that gives gold at will.” — Moore,
- Epicurean.
Tail : It is believed that various tribes scattered all over the
world have tails. For example the gigantic Patagonians,
the Ghilanes, a race of men “ beyond the Sennar,” the
Niam Niam tribe of Africa, the Narea tribes, certain
other tribes south of Harrar in Abyssinia, the natives of
Formosa are all supposed to be men adorned with tails.
Taka-mika-dzuchi : Jap. Myth. Formerly a god of thunder,,
at present he is universally recognized as a war-god and
as a god who predicts the weather.
Takar-bune : “ Treasure-ship ” ; a Japanese emblem of luck.
(Chamberlain, Ger. Tr.} p. 235.)
Talisman : A stone with a hole through it is sometimes hung
on the handle of a stable door to ward off evil spirits..
In order to free the house of vermin, the figure of the
obnoxious animals should be made in wax in “ the plane-
tary hour.”
Talos : Gr. Myth. Son of Perdrix, sister of Daedalos, inventor
of the saw, compasses and other mechanical instruments.
His uncle jealous of him, threw him down the citadel of
Athens, and he was changed into a partridge.
Talos : A man of brass made by Hephaestus (Vulcan). This
wonderful automaton was given to Minos to patrol the
island of Crete. It traversed the island thrice a day, and
if a stranger came near, made itself red-hot, and squeezed
him to death ; it is also said to have challenged every
vessel coming to the island.
Tamarind : The Oraons of Bengal revere the tamarind and
bury their dead under its shade. (Dalton, Descriptive
Ethnology , p. 189 ; see Ethnologie du Bengale , pp. 62, 92.).
A DICTIONARY OF
/254
Tammuz : BabyL Myth. A god of agriculture, and spirit of
vegetation. He marries Xshtar by whom he is slain, and
later, is brought back again from the lower world.
Tan : Chin. Folklore. The Elixir of Gold, the mystical com-
pound by means of which the Taoist alchemists professed
themselves able to produce gold and to confer the gift of
immortality. It constituted the " potent drug which, if
one-half of its bulk be swallowed, confers perpetual
longevity on earth, whilst the entire quantity gives at
once the power of ascending on high among the genii.”
(Mayers, Chin. Read . Man ., p. 217.)
Tangaloo : The principal god of the Australian natives, who
is represented as the common god of the heaven and. sea,
as well as the creator of the world.
Tanit : Egypt. Myth. Ancient Phoenician deity, one of the
forms of Astarte who was worshipped at Carthage.
Tank : A tank of water should not be left uncovered during
Passover ; even if water be poured in, it should be done
through a cloth. ( Galicia . — -Jew. Enc- ., Vol. IX, p. 519.)
Tantalus : Class. Myth. He was made to stand in water breast
deep ; but every time he, tortured by thirst, bent down
to drink, the water receded. Hence the expression
“ tantalising.”
Tanuki-gami : The badger-god possession of Japan.
Taromaiti : Persian Myth. A spirit of arrogance.
Tarantula : A kind of spider supposed to be extremely
poisonous.
Music will cure the venomous bite of a tarantula.
b A person bitten by a tarantula laughs and dances in a
kind of frenzy till he dies.
Tamkappe : Siegfried's (q.v.) cap (or cloak) which had the
power of making the wearer invisible.
' Tashmit : Egypt, Myth. Nebo's consort is usually designated
by this name. She was also called Nana.
Task In Ross this is a kind of a warning light, and is the
same as the “ waff.”
Tasnim : Moham. Myth. A fountain in Mahomet's paradise ;
so called from being conveyed to the very highest apart-
• • ments of the celestial mansions.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
255
Tasting Death : The Rabbis say, there are three drops of
gall on the sword of Death ; one drop in the mouth and
the man dies ; from the second the pallor of death is
suffused ; from the third his carcase turns to dust.
Ta tsiao : Chinese Folklore. It is the name of a mass celebrated
to appease the wandering and hungry ghosts of the wicked
men. (Williams, M.K., Vol. II, p. 257.)
Tattooing : In Bengal tattooing is used as a cure for goitre.
(Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 33.)
In Bengal, high caste Brahmans will not drink from the
hands of a girl who does not wear the Ulkhi or star-shaped
tattoo-mark between the eyebrows, (ib. p. 32 ; Ethnologie
du Bengale, p. 133.)
Ta-urt : Egypt. Myth. A goddess having the body and head
of a hippopotamus, the hind quarters of a lion, and the
tail of a crocodile. She presided over the birth of kings
and gods, and was an important personage in the under-
world. She was the wife of Set.
Tea : If young girls pour milk into the tea before putting in
the sugar, they will die as spinsters. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 49.)'
Fortune can be told by tea-leaves.
Tear : Tears should not be allowed to drop on a corpse, or the
mourner will die himself. ( Mecklenburg . — Wuttke,
p. 210.)
Witches are incapable of shedding tears. (Wuttke,
P- H5-)
Tears of mourners are collected in a bottle by the
Persians in the belief that a single drop will restore a
dying man, (Morier, Second Journey through Persia , 1818,
p. 179.)
Pearls bring tears. {Great Britain.)
If the eyes suddenly fill with tears, it is a sign that the
person will soon mourn the death of a dear one. ( Brittany .
— LE Braz, Vol. I, p. 12.)
(ii) Torn clothes must not be worn on a New Year’s
Day. {India.)
Tefnut : Egypt. Myth. A lion-headed goddess, sister and wife
of Shu.
Teirtus’ Harp : A harp which played of itself merely by being
asked to do so, and when desired, ceased playing, cf.
St. Dunstan.
256 A DICTIONARY OF
Telegraph Wire : In Japan some people will not go under
telegraph-wires, or at least cover their heads with a fan,
for fear of some diabolic possession. (Chamberlain,
Ger. tr.y p. 534-)
Telephassa : Gr. Myth. Wife of Agenor, mother of Cadmus,
Europa, Phocius, Clix.
Telephus : Gr. Myth. A king of Mysia, who was wounded by
the lance of Achilles. His wound was immediately cured
by a plaster made from the rust of this same lance.
Tell : According to a legend the three Tells, founders of the
Helvetic Confederacy, sleep peacefully in a cavern near
Lake Lucerne, till that time when their country shall
have need of them. cf. Barbarossa, King Arthur , Charle-
magne,
Temmangu : A Japanese god of learning and calligraphy.
He is, or was until recently, one of the most widely wor-
shipped of Shinto deities, especially by pedagogues and
schoolboys.
Temperance : Father Mathew is called the “ Apostle of
Temperance .”
Tempest : St. Barbara who flourished in a.d. 235, abates
tempests. Vide Storm .
Tench : Vide Jaundice .
Tengu : Jap. Myth. Mysterious beings who appear as priests,
riding on foxes, carrying sometimes swords like the
samurai ; but their commonest form is like that of a bird
of prey, not unlike an eagle or a vulture. The favourite
haunts of these beings are famous temples. They are the
prototype of the Garuda of Buddhist mythology.
The popular explanation of this term is “ heavenly
dog ” ; it also means " heavenly fox.”
Terme, Terminus : Rom. Myth. A Roman god, protector of
boundaries and limits.
Terpsichore : Gr. Myth. The Muse of singing and dancing
She is usually represented with a lyre.
Tersus : A legendary king of Thracia, husband of Procne.
Tethys : Gr. Myth. A Titaness, daughter of Uranus, sister of
Cronus, wife of Oceanus, and mother of the Oceanides.
Teutates : A certain god whom the inhabitants of Gaul
regarded as their father.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
257
Tezcatlipoca : The evil brother of Quetzalocoatl (q.v.) who
represents the conquering night.
In Mexican mythology he was the personification of
the breath of life. He was a life-giver, and had also the
power to end. existence. He is represented as holding a
dart in his right hand, and his mirror-shield and four
other darts in his left hand. Pie was a god of fate and
fortune. (. Non-Classical Mythology , p. 167.)
Thalia : Gr. Myth. The Muse of comedy and idylls. She is
represented with a mask and a garland of ivy.
(ii) One of the three Graces (Horae, q.v.).
Tha-ma : The Burmese name for Yama, the god of death.
Tha-tha-pali : A deity. He is regarded by the Wathi Wathis
of Central Australia as a powerful spirit, or perhaps a
supreme supernatural being. They say that he comes
from the far North, and now lives in the sky. He told
each tribe what language they were to speak. He made
men and women, and dogs ; and the latter used to talk,
but he took the power of speech from them. (Lang,
Magic and Religion , p. 71, quoting from Mr. Cameron.)
Theft : If you steal anything at Christmas without being
caught, you can steal safely for a year. (Ragner.) Vide
Glass, Heart,
Thei : Gr. Myth. A Titaness, wife of Hyperion.
Themis : Gr. Myth. A form of the Earth goddess. She is a
Titaness, daughter of Uranus, wife of Zeus, mother of
Prometheus. She was a goddess of justice, and is repre-
sented with a pair of scales.
Theseus : Gr. Myth. The chief Attic hero, son of iEgeus,
grandson of Pittheus. He rid Attica of Procrustes and
other evil doers, slew the Minotaur, conquered the Amazons,
and took part in the Calydonian Hunt.
Thetis : Gr. Myth. One of the Nereids, mother of Achilles.
She plunged her son into the waters of the Styx in order
to make him invulnerable.
Thief : If one can obtain some articles of clothing belonging
to a thief, and if these be beaten, the thief himself will fall
ill. [Prussia. — Tettau und Temme, Volkssagen , p. 283.)
If an article touched by a thief be put into a coffin,
all those who participated in the theft will die. [Lauen-
berg . — Wuttke, p. 83.)
If a pregnant woman takes anything belonging to another,
the child will be a thief. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 47).
258 A DICTIONARY OF
Thirst : Agate quenches thirst.
Thirteen : Thirteen is an unlucky number.
If thirteen people sit down to dinner at the same table,
one of the company will die within a year ( Christian ).
Thistle : The vampire of Malay folklore may be caught by
hanging up a bunch of thistle. (Enc. Brit., Vol. VIII,
p. 6.) cf. Brushwood, Thorn.
Thomas a Becket : This saint cures blindness.
Thor : Norse Myth. Son of Odin. The god of thunder, the
same as the Teutonic Donar. In Norway and Iceland he
was the most widely worshipped god. He was killed by
the Midgard Serpent (q.v.) whom he also slew at Ragnarok.
He sent thunder and dashed waves against the coast.
(Thorpe, N.M., Vol. I, p. 24, 195 ; see Mundra Edda, 20.)
Thorn : If thorns remain sticking on to the clothing of an
unmarried girl, she will be married to a widower. (Han-
over.— Wuttke, p. 42.)
The Khonds attempt to keep away diseases, such as
smallpox, etc., by “ placing thorns and brushwood in the
paths leading to places decimated by that disease, in the
hope of making the disease-demon retrace his steps.”
(Enc. Brit., Vol. VIII, p. 6 ; Ethnologie du Bengale,
p. 132. cf. Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, pp. 115, 134 ; St. John,
Far East, Vol. I, p. 217 ; Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p. 517 ;
Roth, Superstitions, Magic and Religion, in North Queens-
land Ethnogr. Bull., No. 5, § 116 ; Taplin, The Narrinyeri,
pp. 62 sq. ; Howitt, Native Tribes, pp. 356, 358 ; Ellis,
Yoruba-speaking Peoples, pp. 113 sq.)
Thoth : Egypt. Myth. A scribe of the gods, measurer of time,
and inventor of numbers. In the Judgment Hall of
Osiris he records the result of the weighing of the heart.
He is represented with the head of an ibis. He was identi-
fied with Hermes by the Greeks.
Thread : A scarlet thread suspended from the horse’s head
will protect him from the evil eye. (Hastings, Die. Bib.,
Vol. IV, p. 605.)
If a thread gets tangled in sewing, that suggests that
the garment on which it is employed will bring health
and prosperity to the person who is destined to wear it.
(Macedonia.— Abbott, p. 100.)
Three : Three is a mystical number. (Note how this number
occurs in mythology.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
259
The number three is unlucky. [Greece.- — Lawson,
p. 313 ; Celtic — Rhys, VoL I, p. 343.)
Throat : Throat ache can be cured by wrapping an old stocking
round the neck before going to sleep. [Silesia, Hesse—
Wuttke, p. 165 ; Great Britain— Lean, VoL II, p. 512.)
Vide Amber , Mouse .
Thruthvang : Norse Myth. Thor's abode in Asgard.
Thrymheim : Norse Myth. The dwelling of Skadi in Asgard.
Thumb : Press your thumbs to bring about a fulfilment of
your desires : “ Daumen drucken ” [Germany : Lean,
Vol. II, p. 341.)
In some parts of India the thumbs and great toes of a
corpse are tied together in order to prevent the spirit
from walking ; among the Bhutiyas, they are tied up in
a cotton bag. Vide Glutton.
Thunder : Thunder on Sunday portends the death of some
learned man, judge or author ; on Monday, the death of
women ; on Tuesday, plenty of grain ; on Wednesday,
the death of harlots or bloodshed ; on Thursday, plenty
of sheep, cattle and corn ; on Friday, the death of some
great man or a battle ; on Saturday it forebodes pestilence
or sickness.
Thunder is caused by witches. (Lehmann, A . Z p. in.)
When you hear the first thunder, shake something
heavy ; then you will be strong. [Bohemia.)
If you keep a glass full of water on the table, thunder
will do your house no harm.
A prayer-book kept on the table serves the same pur-
pose as a glass of water. [Jews of Bohemia.)
Swans cannot hatch without a clap of thunder.
If you kill a beetle, it will bring rain, thunder and
lightning. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 136.)
“ Thunder in the morning,
All the day storming ;
Thunder at night
Is the sailor's delight." — Popular Rhyme.
Thunder Bird : Among the North American Indians, the
Dacotas, Brazilians, Caribs, Karens, Bechuanas, Basutos,
etc., thunder is believed to be caused by the thundering
of an old bird. It is the young birds that do the mischief.
(Tylor.)
26o A DICTIONARY OF
Thunderbolt : The Indians believe that the thunderbolt is the
missile thrown by Indra when he is angry.
Thunderbolt may be attracted to anything by a first-
born child leaning against it. (Enc. Rd. Eth., Vol. VIII,
p. 290, quoting N.I.N.Q., i, (1891) §378).
A thunderbolt can be “ caught ” by quickly covering
it with some cow-dung. {India.)
Thursday : Of all days of the week this is the unluckiest in
Germany. No marriages should be celebrated, or important
businesses undertaken, or children sent to school for the
first time on a Thursday. (Wuttke, p. 11 ; India.)
Thursday derives its name from Thor or Donar to whom
it is dedicated. Vide Sunday, Wednesday.
Tickling : Tickling a baby causes stuttering. ( Georgia . —
Bergen, C.S., p. 28.)
Tide : Children cannot be born till the tide comes in ; neither
can anyone die until the tide goes out [Portugal. —
Sebii.lot, Legendes, Croyances et Superst. de la Mer,
Vol. I, p. 132 ; Dickens, David Copperfield, Ch. XXX),
or is beginning to recede. {Spain. — Sebillot, loc. cit.,
Sauv£ in Melusine, Sept., 1884; Bassett, p. 29 ; Frazer,
The Magic Art, Vol. i, p. 167.)
Tiger : The peasantry of India and the Malay Archipelago
believe that a man under certain circumstances can
change himself into a tiger. (Vide Lycanthropy , Werewolf.)
In Corean superstition a tiger is supposed to have the
power of flying, or emitting fire, or hurling lightning.
(Griffis, Corea.)
The tiger lives to the age of one thousand years. When
five hundred years old, his colour changes to white. His
claws are a powerful talisman, and ashes prepared from
his skin worn about the person, act as a charm against
sickness. (Mayers, Chin. Read. Man., p. 65 ; Williams,
M.K., Vol. II, p. 256 ; Ellis, Ewe-speaking Peoples ,
p. 93 ; Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 106.)
The Indians do not mention a tiger by name. (Crooke,
P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 212.)
Tigers are amenable to courtesy, and will not harm
anyone who is polite to them (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. I,
p. 249 ; cf. J. MacLaren Cobham, The Red Sultan (The
Nelson Library), pp. 90 sq. ; Ethnologie du Bengale,
pp. 106, 91, n. 8.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
261
Tii : The Tii are the Polynesian vampires, and are represented
as the ghosts of the dead, which leave their graves and
peep into houses by night, and devour the heart and
entrails of the sleepers, so that they die. (J. R. Foster,
Observations During a Voyage Round the World , p. 543.)
Time : The ancients had personified time in the form of an
old man with two wings.
Tindalo : The Tindalo of the Melanesians is a ghost as distinct
from the vni (q.v.).
Tiphys : Gr. Myth. One of the Argonauts ; he was appointed
helmsman during the expedition.
Tir : Moham. Myth. Son of Iblis, a jinn who brings about
calamities and injuries. {Jew. Enc. Vol. IV, p. 521.)
Tisiphone : Gr. Myth. One of the three Furies. She was
entrusted with punishing the guilty the moment they
entered the infernal regions.
Titanus : Gr. Myth. One of the primeval deities, children of
Uranus and Gaea. The great event in Titan history was
the Titanomachy, or war of the Olympian gods in Thessaly.
The Titans were the earliest children of the Earth, older
than even the Greek gods, and were sons of the Earth,
their mother. (G. E. Woodberry.) They attempted to
reach the heaven by piling one mountain upon another,
and were destroyed by lightning by Zeus.
Tizona : “The Firebrand ” ; the name of the mighty sword
of the Cid. cf. Excalibur , Balmung .
Tlapalan : Aztec Folklore. The Red Land of the South East,
whence Quetzalocoatl originally came and later went
back to.
Toad : Toads spit poison, but they carry in their head an
antidote.
Toads are not found in Ireland, because St. Patrick
cleared the island of all vermin.
Bodies of toads killed slowly are a specific remedy for
warts ; hung inside the stable doors, they protect the
cattle from diseases. (Zingerle in Wolfs Zeitschrift ,
I, 16 ; Wuttke, pp. 95, 96.)
People who have hidden treasures, guard them after
death in the form of a toad till someone finds them.
(Alpenburg, Mythen , p. 215, etc.)
In some Teutonic countries it is considered unlucky to
kill toads, because they are the homes of some unfortunate
souls.
262
A DICTIONARY OF
The Jnun of the Moors are usually supposed to assume
the form of toads. Hence anybody who kills or hurts one
of these creatures will have fever or die in consequence.
(Westermarck, The Belief in Spirits in Morocco , p. 13.)
Toads are used for various magical purposes (see Ploss,
Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 440.)
cf. Scorpion , Snake , Frog.
Tobyo : (meaning unknown.) It is a kind of possession to be
found in Bitchu and Bingo in Japan, and is a form of the
Kitsune-tsuke.
Toe : Toe-nails should be carefully destroyed, lest other
people finding them ma}^ perform magical operations.
{India) Vide Thumb .
Toelu : The Welsh name for a phantom funeral.
Tola : In the Himalayas, the tolas are the spirits of children
and bachelors, sometimes appearing in the form of a will-
o’-the-wisp, sometimes prowling about in the form of
bears and other wild animals. They are as a rule harmless,
and their present state only temporary. (Crooke, P.R.,
Vol. I, p. 261, quoting Traill, Asiatic Researches , XVI,
137 sq. ; N.I.N.Q., ii, 27 ; Eihnologie du Bengale , p. 99.).
Tolosom : A Bulgarian household spirit in the form of a snake.
Tomb : To dream of erecting a tomb denotes marriages,
weddings and births of children ; but if falling to ruin,
sickness and destruction to yourself and family.
Tom Cat : A tom cat of a black colour brings good luck.
Vide Cat.
Tomte : “ House-spirit.” Another form of Gardsvor (q.v.).
Tongue : If you bite your tongue, it promises a gift of sweets,
or some pleasant news, or it indicates that you are telling
a lie. [India)
If the tongue of a fox be dried and worn near the heart,
it will safeguard the wearer against ervsipelas in the face.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p, 85.)
Tooth : A child’s first tooth must not be thrown away, but
hidden in a mouse-hole. (1 Great Britain, India)
Teeth set wide apart warn a person to seek his fortune
away from his native place.
The teeth of a cat or of a fox are believed by Arabs to
be a powerful weapon against Jinns, Ghouls, and even
Satan himself. (Hastings, Die. Bib., Vol. IV, p. 603.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
263
If a child gets the upper teeth first, it is a sign that he
will not outlive his milk-teeth ; but if the bottom row
first, he will live long. {Bavaria— Zingerle, Deutsche
Mythologie, p. 101.)
In Dahomey if a child was born with a complete set of
teeth, the chief magician upheld the event being a reincar-
nation of the King who had returned to devour his son, and
the child was drowned (Bertholet, p. 27) ; in Europeaa
countries such a child is considered to be a monster.
At Penvenan if a person loses a tooth in a cemetery
at the moment he sees a priest, it is a sure sign of his
speedy death. (Le Calvez in Revue des Traditions Popu-
lates, VII, p. 90.)
To dream of teeth (U.S.A. — Knortz, p. 43) falling out
is very unlucky ; it denotes the death of some near
relative. (Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 117 ; St. Clair
Tisdall, Modern Persian Conversation Grammar (1920),
p. 41.) Vide Lucky Finds, Bread, Church hell, Comb,
Headache, Milktooth, Nail, Mole’s paw, Toothache.
Toothache : A paw cut from off a live mole cures toothache.
{W. Sussex.— F.L.R., 4.)
The tooth of a person fallen in war, or dying a violent
death cures toothache if the suffering tooth and that
side of the face be rubbed with it. ( Mecklenburg , Silesia. — •
Wuttke, pp. iot, 102.)
A louse taken from the body of a beggar and put into
the hollow of an aching tooth, instantly relieves the pain.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 85.)
St. Appolina cures toothache, because all her teeth were
pulled out before she was burnt alive.
A splinter of wood from a gibbet cures toothache.
(Lean, Vol. II, p. 515.)
To cure toothache, rub the gum with the finger of a
corpse. (Strackerjan, vol. i, p. 19.)
As a remedy for toothache, carry an amulet with the
word w<£eAe on it. {Jew. Enc., Vol. V, p. 426.)
Silesian mothers swallow their children’s cast teeth in
order to save their offspring from toothache (Grohmann,
p. in, §823; Wuttke, p. 330, §527).
Topaz : Topaz is favourable for hsemorrhages ; it imparts
strength and promotes digestion.
The topaz is an emblem of fidelity ; it is dedicated to
November and in the Zodiac it signifies Taurus.
Tomgak : An Esquimaux familiar demon which may be the
soul of a deceased parent. (Cranz, Gronland, p. 268.)
264 A DICTIONARY OF
Tomgarsuk : The great spirit of the Greenlanders, as opposed
to the Manitous, to whose happy land only those come,
who have been valiant workers. (Cranz, Gronland ,
p. 259 ; Bastian, Vol. II, p. 109.)
Tortoise : The Hindus believe that a tortoise supports the
world-bearing elephant. (Bassett, p. 263.)
The North American Indians say that earthquakes are
caused by the movement of the world-bearing tortoise.
In Macedonia the tortoise is regarded as lucky, and
the killing of one is a great sin. (Abbott, p. 109.)
In Corea the tortoise is a symbol of immortality and
strength. (Griffis, Corea , p. 303.)
In a Chinese legend a tortoise emerged from the Yellow
River, on the shell of which a sage found a system of
numerals, and thus obtained the rudiments of mathematics
and philosophy.
In China divers marvellous tales are narrated with
regard to the fabulous longevity and the faculty of trans-
formation of the tortoise. It is said to conceive by thought
alone ; hence the Chinese use the term “ son of a tortoise ”
to denote a bastard. (Mayers, Chin. Read. Man ., p. 101.)
Totem : A family symbol.
Totemism : The term “ totemism ” is used to signify the belief
that u man is related to a particular species of animal,
or is even descended from it. The believer then takes the
name of his totem animal, as we take our family names. ”
(Bertholet, p. 4.)
“ A large number of peoples believe that after death,
the soul does not remain disincarnate for ever, but
presently animates another living body, and the primitive
mind, drawing no definite line of demarcation between
the souls of men and of beasts, admits without difficulty
the transmigration of human souls into the bodies of the
lower animals (Tylor, Primitive Culture , II, p. 6). The
animal thus serving as a receptacle for a venerated being
becomes a holy thing, the object of a cult, that is, a
totem , for all the descendants of the ancestor, who form
the clan descended from him.” (Durkheim, Elementary
Forms of Religious Life , p. 168, quoted in Ethnologie du
Bengale , p. 17.)
Towel : If lovers wipe themselves on the same towel, their
love will come to an end.
Tower of London : It is believed to be haunted.
Toyo-tama-hiko : Jap. Myth. “ Rich- jewel-prince.” A sea-god.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
265
Toyo-tame-hime ; “ Rich- jewel-maidens.” Daughter of the'
Japanese sea-god ; wife of Hohodemi, a son of Ninigi.
On discovering her changing her form into that of a warn
(sea-dragon), her husband abandoned her after barring
the passage between the realms of land and sea.
Traitor : Vide Brawn's Head, Drinking Horn .
Trance : In popular belief a trance is caused by the soul leaving
for a certain time the body it inhabits. If the soul does
not return, death ensues.
Treasure : Treasures are watched over by dragons. (Tyrol.- —
Alpenburg, My then, p. 377 ; Greece— Lawson, p. 281 ;
Turkish , Kt5nos, T.F.T. , p. 135, etc.)
Yaks (q.v.) keep watch over treasures (Bengal); Bhuts
also do the same (Crooke, Vol. I, p. 286.)
To dream of treasures, big or small, is an evil omen.
If there be any buried treasure in an old occupied house,
the owner of the treasure remains there in the form of
a ghost. (Jackson, F.L.N. , Vol. II, p. 59.)
Vide Groat , Toad .
Treasure, Lost : The wealth of the Incas is said to have been
hidden in two separate parts, known respectively as the
Great and the Little Fish. This happened after the fall
of Montezuma, and the secret of it is now lost to the world
Tree : The Izhuvans of India believe that trees are inhabited
by spirits, therefore proper notice of ejection is given to
them before a tree is cut down. (cf. Jackson, F.L.N. ,
Vol. I, p. 136.)
In Franconia, on St. Thomas’s Day, the girls go to a
tree, knock upon it three times with due solemnity, and
listen for answering knocks within telling them what sort
of husband they will get. (Bertholet, p. 19.)
In Sicily, they tie stones to fruit trees in order to ensure
a crop of fruit. (G. Pitr£, Usi e costumi , credenze e
pregiudizi del popolo siciliano , Palermo, 1889, ii, 113 $q.)
The Kh&siy&s of East Bengal lay the bodies of their dead
dea d in the hollow of a tree. (Crooke, P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 85.)
The Indians do not like plucking fruits at night, for
fear of disturbing the spirits living in the trees.
In Japan trees are the abodes of ghosts and evil spirits ;
good spirits rarely dwell in them. (Griffis, M.E. , p. 473.)
Beat the trees on Christmas night and they will bear
more fruit. (Ragner.)
To dream- of trees in blossom signifies a happy marriage
and manv children.
266 A DICTIONARY OF
Triangle : A piece of iron of a triangular shape is used for
various magical rites. (Aubrey, Remains, p. 57 ; Crooke,
P.R.I., Vol. II, p. 39-) cf. Circle.
Trimurti : Hind. Myth. Trinity ; composed of Brahma, the
Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Siva, the destroyer,
representing the three powers of nature.
Trinavartta : Hind. Myth. A demon who assumed the form
of a whirlwind and carried off the infant Krishna, but was
overpowered and killed by the child. (Dowson, H.C.D.,
P- 32i.)
Tri-pada : Hind. Myth. “ Three-footed.” Fever personified
as having three feet, symbolizing the three stages of fever
— -heat, cold and sweat. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 321.)
Triton : Gr. Myth. A demi-god of the sea, son of Poseidon
(Neptune) and Amphitrite, represented as having the lower
part of his body fish-like and blowing a spiral shell. Later
mythology imagined a number of Tritons, attendants on
the sea-gods.
Trold : Danish Folklore. These are dwarfs, and are represented
as misshapen, stumpy and humpbacked. They are generally
ill-natured, of a thieving disposition, they live under-
ground and are rich in gold and silver. (Thiele, Dan-
marks Folkesagn.)
(ii) Trold is the Scandinavian name for a witch.
Troll : Teut. Folklore. A supernatural being, conceived some-
times as a dwarf, sometimes as a giant, fabled to inhabit
caves, hills, and like places. Later, this word came to
mean a familiar but impish dwarf.
Trout : Vide Fisherman.
Trude, Trute : In the Tyrol district of Germany the mar a.
is usually designated by this name.
Tsao Guo Giu : Chin. Folklore. The fourth of the eight Im-
mortals. ( Chin . Volksmdrchen, p. 71.)
Tsin King : A magic mirror which had the property of reflecting
“ the inward parts of those who looked upon it and
revealing the seats of disease.” (Mayers, Chin. Read.
Man., p. 251.)
Tsuki-yomi : A Japanese moon-deity. He has shrines at
Ise and other places and occupies a far less prominent
part in Japanese mythology and cult than his elder sister,
Amaterasu.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 267
Tuamatef : Egypt. Myth. The ape-headed genius of Amenti.
He was associated with the East.
Tuatha De Danann : Irish Legend. The divine race, children
of Danu, who invaded Ireland, overthrew the Firbolgs
and Fomors, and were finally overthrown by the Milesians,
by whom they were worshipped as gods.
Tuau : Egypt. Myth. The lion-god (q.v.) on the left is known
by the name of Tuau.
Tuckbolde ; In the provinces of Mark and Lower Saxony
this is another appellation of the Jack-o'-Lantern. Vide
Ignis Fatuus.
Tuesday : Tuesday is a propitious day for marriages and
other important undertakings. (Wuttke, p. 10.)
In Modern Greece, Tuesday is an unlucky day, because
it is called Tpm? “ third day.” (Lawson, p. 313.)
Vide Sunday, Wednesday , Three .
Tulong : The Ta-ta-thi of Central Australia regard him as a
deity. He is a powerful spirit or perhaps a supreme
supernatural being. They say that he comes from the
far North and now lives in the sky. He told each tribe
what language they were to speak, and created men,
women and dogs ; the latter could once speak like human
beings. The Ta-ta-thi do not like to speak much of Tulong ,
and say that he does not come much to earth. (Lang,
Mag. Rel.f p. 71, quoting Mr. Cameron.)
Tulsi Plant : The Hindus regard the tulsi or the sweet-basil
plant or its leaves as a powerful charm against all kinds
of evil spirits ( Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 62 ; Monier
Williams, Hinduism , p. 170 ; F.L.J. , 1883, p. 377 ;
Ward, Hindus , Vol. II, p. 203 ; Day, Govinda Samanata ,
Vol. I, p. 18 ; J. T. Bent, The Cyclades , p. 328).
“ Veneram a planta chamada Tulosse, por dizerem
e do pateo dos Deoses, e por esso e commun no pateo
de suas casas, e todas as manhas Ihe vao tributar vener-
a9ao ” (Annaes Martimos, III, 453, quoted by Yule and
Burnell, Hobson Jobson 2, p. 931; idem1, p. 710).
It is a great sin to uproot this tree, though no sin
attaches to the plucking of its leaves during daytime.
(Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p. 136.) cf. Bay, Assides ,
Chikuli , Rowan tree.
268 A DICTIONARY OF
Tululu supai : The Canelos believe this to be a demon who,
when he wants to visit a woman, may take the form of
a black nocturnal bird which they call tululu. It enters
a house and has intercourse with the woman while she
is sleeping. (Karsten, Indian Tribes of Equador, p. 71.)
cf. Incubus, Succubus, Cuichi snpai.
Turn : Egypt. Myth. A sun-god regarded as the “ Closer ”
of the day, and often as the creator of the world. He is
represented as carrying ankh and sceptre. Vide Shu.
Turk : Turks are more liable to become vampires than
Christians. (Greece. — Lawson, p. 369 note.)
Turmeric : In Indian superstition turmeric is an infallible
test in discovering whether a person is really human,
or a ghost in human form, or a possessed ; no ghost is
able to endure the smell of burnt turmeric. (Day, Folk-
tales of Bengal, p. 199 ; Crooke, P.R., Vol. I, p. 237.)
Turning : If a person turns round on the way to his wredding,
it is a sign that one of the party will die. ( Thuringia . —
Wuttke, p. 43.)
Turpentine : If you think you can smell turpentine when there
is none in the vicinity, it is an omen of death. (Stracker-
jan, Vol. I, p. 31.)
Turquoise : It is a precious stone found in Persia. Several
virtues are ascribed to it :
It indicates by its hue the state of the wearer’s health.
It indicates by its change of lustre if any peril awaits
the wearer.
It removes animosity between the giver and the receiver.
It rouses the sexual passion.
Turquoise given by loving hands carries with it happi-
ness and good fortune.
The turquoise is an emblem of prosperity, and is dedi-
cated to December. It is a Saturnian stone, and stands
for lead in metallurgy.
Twanyrika : The Aruntas of Central Australia believe that
the roaring noise of a wooden slat tied to a string and
swung about is the “voice of the great spirit Twanyrika.”
This spirit lives in wild and inaccessible regions and is
mostly believed in by women and children. (Lang,
Mag. Rek, p. 65, quoting Spencer and Gillen.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
269
Twelve Nights : Teut. Folklore. The twelve nights beginning
from Christmas and extending to Epiphany. At this time
the gods, especially Wodan and his wife Frigg hold their
processions with the good spirits. It is also the time of
the Wild Hunt (q.v.), and of the activity of Holda,
Perchta, etc.
In Northern Germany, it is said that as the weather
is during each of these twelve days, so it will be during
each month of the year. (Kuhn und Schwartz, N.D.S.,
p. 41 1 ; Bassett, 131.)
* Twenty-ninth of February : People born on this day have an
especial aptitude for seeing ghosts, while others cannot
even feel their presence. ( Rhineland , Westphalia. —
Wuttke, p. 24.)
Twilight : Rakshasas and other spirits are strongest at twi-
light. Vide Rakshasas, Sandhya-bala.
Twins : The Indians at Canelos never eat two bananas which
have grown together, believing that if they eat them,
their wives will give birth to twins. (Karsten, Indian
Tribes of Equador, p. 74; cf. Baarda, pp. 466, 468.)
If pregnant women eat fruits which have grown double,
they will be delivered of twins. ( Mecklenburg . — Wuttke,
p. 193 ; Great Britain, India ; Ethnologie du Bengale,
p. 81.)
Tychon : Gr. Myth. The spirit of good luck. .
Tyndareus : Gr. Myth. Legendary king of Sparta, husband
of Leda, father of Castor, Pollux, Helen and Clytemnestra.
Typheus : Gr. Myth. The chief of the giants who scaled the
heavens. He was struck by lightning by Zeus.
Typhon : Egypt. Myth. An ancient god of wickedness, dark-
ness and sterility.
Typhus : The Polish peasants believe that the hand of a dead
Tew is effective against typhus. (Schiffer, Urquell,
Vol. Ill, pp. 123, etc.)
Tyr : Teut. Myth. An ancient war or sky god. His name has
been connected with Zeus, Jupiter and Dyaus.
Tyrant : If a person eats the heart of a bear, he will become
a tyrant. (Jews of Minsk.)
270
A DICTIONARY OF
U
Uatchit : Egypt. Myth. The goddess of the North who,
along with Nekhebit, was taken by Horus, in the form of
two serpents, that they might consume with fire any
rebels who still remained. (Wiedemann, Leg. of the
W inged Sun-Disk.)
Uazit : A variation of Uatchit.
Ugly Females : These are to be found in Yomi (q.v.).
Uhatsu-wata-dzume : See Sokotsu-wata-dzume.
Uhijini : Mud has been deified under this name in Japan.
Ukemochi : A Japanese Food-goddess who, with the Sun-god-
dess, is worshipped at Ise. She is said to be the child of
Ohonomochi, the great Earth-god.
Ukhat : Babyl. Myth. The word literally means a " wailing
woman.” Ukhat lured Eabani into the service of Gil-
gamesh. Vide Eabani, Gilgamesh.
Ulcer : The tongue of a dog cures ulcers. (Lean, Vol. II,
p. 516.)
Ulysses : Gr. Myth. A legendary king of Ithaca, son of
Laertes, father of Telemachus, and husband of Penelope.
He was one of the principal heroes in the Siege of Troy,
and is noted for his sagacity and prudence. The principal
episodes of his life in chronological order are : (i) the
ruse he employed in order to single out Achilles disguised
as a maiden and living with the daughters of the king of
Lycomeda, to take him to the siege of Troy ; (ii) his
dispute with Ajax for the possession of Achilles’ arms ;
(iii) his entry into the cave of the giant Polyphemus whose
only eye he blinded; (iv) the metamorphosis of his
companions into pigs brought about by the wicked
enchantress Circe • (v) the manner in which he escaped
the allurements of the sirens by binding himself to the
mast of the ship and stopping his own and his com-
panions’ ears ; (vi) his reception in the court of Alcinoiis,
king of the Pheacians ; (viij the flight of the image of
Ithaca before him ; (viii) the touching manner of his
recognition by his dog and his faithful nurse Euryclea,
after an absence of twenty years. Vide Circe, Penelo-be ,
Euryclea.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
271
Uma : Hind. Myth. Devi, the consort of Siva, is also called
Uma, “ light.”
Umbrella : In Eastern countries the umbrella is a symbol
of supremacy. If a king is present, no one is allowed to
carry an umbrella. (Monier Williams, Buddhism,
P- 523-)
It is unlucky to open an umbrella inside the house ;
it denotes a speedy death {general), or that you will
remain unmarried all your life. ( U.S.A . — Knortz, p. 39.)
Umkulunkulu : The supreme spirit of the Zulus (Callaway).
His character seems to vary from the idea of an ancestral
spirit, or the spirit of an ancestor, to that of a god.
(Haggard, Nadu the Lily, pp. xii, 206.)
Underclothing : A woman must not change her underclothing
for a period of six weeks after she has given birth to a
child ; if she ignores this precaution, she will give birth
to a baby every year. {Mark. — Wuttke, p. 207.)
Unfaithful : Elephant hunters of East Africa attribute their
want of success in hunting to the unfaithfulness of their
wives ; in such case they think they will be killed or
severely wounded. (P. Raichard, Deutsch-Ostafrika,
Leipsic, 1892, p. 427.)
Unicom : Unicorns can be caught only by placing a virgin
in their haunts.
The horn of a unicorn dipped into a liquor will show
if it contains poison, (cf. Hazlitt, p. 605 sq.)
Unicorns do not eat anything but virgins. Vide Chichi
Vache, Poison, Virgin, Venetian Glass, Drinking Horn,
Rhinoceros, Dragon.
Unlucky Days : There are forty-two unlucky days in the year
of which three are the most unlucky, viz., 1 April, the day
of the birth of Judas Iscariot ; x August, the day of the
destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah ; and x December,
the day on which Satan was driven out of Heaven.
The forty-two unlucky days are : January 1, 2, 6, 11,
17, 18 ; February 8, 16, 17 ; March 3, 12, 13, 15 ; April
1, 3, 15, 17, 18 ; May 8, 10, 17, 30 ; June 1, 17 ; July 1,
5, 6 ; August 1, 3, 17, 20 ; September 1, 2, 15, 30 ;
October 15, 17 ; November 11, 17 ; December 1, 7, 11.
(Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 52 ; cf. Hazlitt, pp. 374-379.)
Upasruti : Hind. Myth. A supernatural voice which is heard
at night, revealing the secrets of the future. (Dowson,
H.C.D., p. 326.)
A DICTIONARY OF
272
Upior : The vampire of Polish superstition.
Upir : The vampire of Russian superstition.
Urania : Gr. Myth. The Muse of astronomy. She is repre-
sented with a compass and a globe.
Uranus : Class. Myth. The most ancient of the Greek gods,
father of Saturn, the Ocean, the Titans, the Cyclops, etc.
Urdhr : Scand. Myth. “Was.” One of the Norns or goddesses
of Fate. She corresponds to the Greek Lachesis. According
to the Eddas she was a water-nymph. (Thorpe, N.M.,
Vol. II, p. 13.)
Urganda : A fairy of the Middle Ages, who was beneficent
to the knights. Sometimes she appeared as an old woman
and sometimes as a charming maiden.
Uriel : An angel whose name is often mentioned in Eastern
liturgies.
Urine : Urine is an excellent means for keeping away all evil-
intentioned spirits and ghosts. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 460 ;
Rink, Tales and Trad., p. 56.)
If a girl urinates in a man’s shoe, he will fall madly in
love with her. (Ploss, Das Weib, Vol. I, p. 443.)
Urisk : Celt. Folklore. “ The Urisk was a large, lubberly
supernatural being of solitary habits and harmless character
that haunted lonely and mountainous places. . . . There
were male and female Urisks, and the race was said to
be the offspring of unions between mortals and fairies.”
(Campbell, Sup. of Scot. Highl., p. 145.)
Urshu : Egypt. Myth. Spirits who played the part of the
watchers.
Urth : Same as Urdhr.
U-simbela-banta-bami : “ He digs-up-for-my-children.” This
was the peaceful name of a Zulu assegai. (Callaway,
Relig. of the Amazulu, p. 186.)
Usurer : The spirits of usurers must return to earth.
If you mention the name of a usurer the first thing in
the morning, you will have nothing to eat that day
(Bengal), cf .Miser.
Ut-napishtim : Babyl. Myth. A hero who by special favour
of the gods has secured immortal life, and to whom
Gilgamesh (q.v.) applies for the secret of immortality.
He is the hero of the Babylonian deluge myth, of which
he and his household are the only survivors.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
273
Uttama-pada : Outstretched, supine. In the Vedas, a peculiar
creative source from which the earth sprang. Supposed
to refer to the posture of a woman in parturition. (Dowson
H.C.D., p. 329-)
Utukku : Babyl. Folklore. They were like the Shedu, strong
and powerful demons.
V
Vadava, Vadavanala : Hind. Myth. The submarine fire which
“ devours the waters of the ocean ” causing it to throw
off the vapours which are condensed into rain and snow
(Dowson, H.C.D., p. 330.)
Vaitarani : Hind. Myth. The river which separates the land
of the living from the land of the dead. cf. Styx.
Valentine, St. : He should be invoked as a last resource in
cases of epilepsy.
Valhalla : Norse Myth. The hall of Odin, in which he receives
the souls of heroes slain in battle; it is the palace of
immortality. From its 540 gates the warriors go each
morning to fight, and at night they return to feast with
the gods, Valkyries being their servitors.
Vali : Norse Myth. One of the TEsir, son of Odin, and avenger
of Balder. He survives Ragnarok.
Valkyrie : Norse Myth. One of the twelve maidens of Odin,
awful and beautiful, who hover over the field of battle
choosing those to be slain, and conducting the worthy
heroes to Valhalla (q.v.).
Vampire : A spirit of a dead person or his corpse reanimated
by his own spirit or by another, returning to sap the
life of the living by sucking their blood. The vampire is
often one who has died an untimely death, or one who
in his turn has been killed by a vampire. The super-
stition is very widespread, and may be found among the
Slavs, the Greeks, the Malays, the Chinese, etc.
When a grave is opened, a vampire may easily be
recognized owing to the body remaining in perfect preser-
vation and the lips being stained with blood.
A DICTIONARY OF
When the body of a vampire is found, # the most effectual
way of ridding the world of this horrible monster is to
cut off the corpse's head, and thrust an ash stake through
the breast ; whereupon a profuse flow of fresh blood
gushes forth, and the corpse utters a fearful scream.
Next the head and the body should be burnt to ashes,
and the ashes scattered to the winds ; or the body may
be re-buried beyond a stream (M. Ranft, Traciat von dem
Kauen und Schmatzen der Todten in Grabern , Leipzig,
1734). Other methods of destroying the power of the
monster have also been advocated, such as sprinkling
the corpse with holy water, but the above is said to be
the most effectual. (Krauss, Vampirglaube in Serbian-
und Lithauen in “ Mittheil d. Anthrop. Gesellschaft in
Wien," Vol. XVIII, 183 ; Abbott, p. 217 ; Ralston,
Songs of the Russian People , p. 412.)
There is an authentic (?) case of vampirism of one
Arnold Paolo, a Heyduck, in the Balkans. Several
military and medical gentlemen of the time were com-
missioned to investigate the facts of this case, and they
signed a protocol setting out all the details. It is said
that this Heyduck who had been once sucked by a
vampire prior to his death, had been killed by a fall
from his carriage. After his decease, he revisited his
native place as a spirit, and sucked the blood of various
people. These died, and in their turn became vampires.
Not only this, but as cattle were also drained of their
blood by these monsters, people drinking the milk of
these cows or eating the flesh of the cattle, became
vampires themselves after death. Thus there was a
regular epidemic of vampirism. Later all the bodies
were exhumed, and were found to be fresh and ruddy.
Their heads were cut off, a stake thrust through their
hearts and the remains afterwards burnt to ashes
thus was the vampire epidemic put an end to. Further*
the said Arnold Paolo is said to have had intercourse
with his wife during sleep, so that she gave birth to a.
solid piece of flesh which crumpled up in the course of
a few days. (Ranft, Tractat, etc. ; Calmet, Dis-
sertation stir les esprits etc. ; O'Donnell, Werewolves ;;
Ennemoser, Hist. Mag., Vol II, pp. 185, 480.)
(Vampirism has been made the subject of many tales,
and has been masterfully dealt with by Mr. Bram Stoker
in his Dracula , T. Gautier in his La Morte Amour euse^
and E. T. A. Hoffmann in his Serapion Brothers .)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 275
cf. Tii, Vyestitsa, Water-colt, Upior, Upir, Mum ,
Nocnitz, Alukah, Langsuir, Hantu Pari , Penanggalan
Kepha, Incubus , Succubus, Cuichi Supai, Tululu Supai,
Khu, J holing, Jildya. Vide River, Water, Cat, Eyebrow.
Vanir : Norse Myth. The three deities Njorth, Frey and
Freya who forced the JEsir to allow them to share their
sacrifices. They were wealthy gods of trade and com-
merce, and came from the South.
Varaha : Hind. Myth. “ The boar.” The demon Hiranyaksha
dragged the earth to the bottom of the sea. To recover
it, Vishnu assumed the form of a boar ; and, after a con-
test of a thousand years, succeeded in slaying the demon
and raising the earth.
Vargamor : Slavic Folklore. A certain class of witches who
preside over werewolves, and whose especial duty is to
supply the beasts with food ; the werewolves in their
turn are bound to obey all her commands. She is a kind
of queen over these animals. (O'Donnell, Werewolves)
Varulpe : The Danish equivalent of a werewolf.
Varan : Hind. Myth. In the Vedic period he was the god of
the heavens, creator and ruler of the world, and bestower
of rewards and punishments for good or evil. In later
mythology his sovereignty is restricted to the waters and
the regions of the West. He is represented as riding a
sea-monster, and holds a snaky cord in his hand, with
which to bind the offenders.
Vasishtha : Hind. Myth. Most wealthy. A celebrated Vedic
sage to whom many hymns are ascribed. Vasishtha was
the possessor of the cow of plenty called Vandini which had
the power of granting him all things (vasu) he desired ;
hence his name. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 339.)
Vatnskratti : “ Water-wraith.” In Iceland it is the name of a
water-spirit.
Vauderie : The French name for witchcraft.
Veil : It is unlucky for a bride to lose a veil. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 35.) cf. Garter.
Vein : A blue vein on the child's forehead extending down
upon the nose is a sure sign of an early death. [Maine and
Massachusetts.— Bergen, C.S., p. 34) ; across the nose,
it has the same meaning. (U.S.A. — ib., p. 36 ; Lean,
Vol. II, p. 142.)
276 A DICTIONARY OF
Veipsey : A spring in Yorkshire. It is called “ prophetic,”
because it gives due warning of dearth by rising to an
unusual height.
Venereal Disease : Vide Sodomy, Virgin.
Venetian Glass : If poison be put into a liquor contained in a
vessel made of Venetian glass, the vessel will crack and
fall to pieces, cf. Unicorn, Drinking Horn, Rhinoceros,
Gates of Gimdoforus.
Venison : Young men and warriors may not eat venison,
because it would make them timid. (Frazer, G.B3.,
Vol. II, p. 353 ; Ethnologie du Bengale, p. 107.)
Venus : Rom. Myth. An ancient Italian goddess of bloom and
and beauty, and protectress of gardens. She was born of
sea-foam.
Verdhandi : Scand. Myth. “ Is.” One of the three goddesses
of Fate. According to the Edda, she was a water-nymph.
(Thorpe, N.M., Vol. II, p. 13.) Vide Norn.
Vermilion Mark : If a Hindu married woman takes off the
red mark on her forehead, she will be a widow', cf . Wedding
Ring.
Vermin : In Ireland there are no vermin because St. Patrick
cleared the island of them.
To get rid of vermin, put a few of them in a gun and
shoot up the chimney. (Wuttke, p. 171.)
Vermin are caused by witches.
To dream of any kind of vermin denotes enemies.
The saints Gertrude and Huldrick help to destroy
vermin.
If you wear something sewed with thread spun on Christ-
mas Eve, no vermin will stick to you. (Ragner.)
Verthandi : Another spelling for Verdhandi.
Vertumnus : A Roman divinity of Etruscan origin, who presided
over the seasons.
Vesta : Rom. Myth. A divinity of the family hearth, cf.
Hestia.
Vestice : They are the “ Wild Women ” of Bohemian folklore.
They can assume the form of every animal. They steal
new-born babies and leave “ changelings ” in their places
(Grohmann, p. 14.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
2 77
Vetala : In the Deccan he is a guardian spirit who appears
as a demon tenanting dead bodies. He is represented in
human form, but his hands and feet are turned backwards.
His eyes are tawny green, and his hair stands on end.
He is to be usually met with in cemeteries. ( Vetala Pah-
chavimsati.) cf. Devil.
Vetrnice : Bohemian Folklore. The spirit of the winds.
Vilas : Bulgarian Folklore. They are the souls of deceased
children and virgins. They are beautiful, white-robed,
light-footed damsels who dwell in woods, mountains and
lakes, and fly in the clouds. They are noted for their
dancing and exquisite singing. They sometimes even
intermarry with men. The state of the weather depends
to a certain extent on them.
Vincent, St. : He helps those who seek riches.
Vinegar : Vide Plague.
Violet : Violets sprang from the blood of Attis (q.v.).
Violets do not smell any more after the first thunder.
{Bohemia. — Grohmann, p. 40.)
Violin : Violin strings worn round the waist cure lumbago.
{Great Britain.)
Viper : Young vipers destroy their mothers when they come
to birth.
Vipers are usually connected with witches.
“ . . . And beat
The ground with vipers, till it sweat."
Ben Jonson, Masque of Queens.
Virgin : Sexual intercourse with a virgin, or children, is, in
some countries, supposed to be a cure for venereal
diseases. (Krafft-Ebing, Psychopathia Sexualis, Eng.
tr., p. 405.) Vide Chichi Vache, Unicorn, Shooting, Bastard,
Water, Shirt, Cage, Light.
Virgin Goddess : Diana (q.v.) was called by this name.
Virginity : In Posen virginity can be proved by going through
a swarm of bees without being stung.
If a girl can blow into a flame a still-glowing candle or
a light, it is a sure sign that she is a virgin. {South Ger-
many, Silesia, Tyrol.—- Wuttke, p. 42.)
To be able to look at the sun is a sign of one’s having the
maidenhead. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 359, quoting Pegge,
Anonymiana, X, 46.)
278
A DICTIONARY OF
In Caucasus it is held to be a sure sign of a girl having
lost her virginity, if her breasts have developed to any
extent. (Ploss, Das Weib , VoL I, p. 360.)
Vide Salt-cellar, Chastity , Grotto of Ephesus , W ater .
Virgo : Astrasa after her death became the constellation
Virgo.
Vishnu : Hind. Myth. The second god of the Hindu Trimurti,
called the preserver in contrast to Brahma, the creator,
and Siva, the destroyer. He is the object of a widely
extended and very popular worship. The holy river Ganges
is said to spring from the feet of Vishnu. As a preserver
and restorer Vishnu is a very popular deity, and the
worship paid to him is of a joyous character. In early
times he was a sun-god. (See Macdonell, Vedic Mythology ,
pp. 3 7 sq. ; Keith, Hindu Mythology , pp. 29 sq . ; Rig
Veda , I, 155-v, VII, 99-ii.)
Vision of Charles XI ; Charles XI of Sweden, accompanied
by other members of the royal household, saw an appari-
tion (vision) of the murder of a Swedish king, and the
subsequent trial and execution of the murderer, which
really took place a number of years after the death of
Charles XI. He was so impressed by this vision, that
he kept a record of the events he witnessed, attested by
all those present, who actually saw the (future) murder
being committed. (See Prosper Merimee, Mosaique.)
Visit : If you are visiting a house where there are children,
you should sit down for a few minutes ; otherwise you
will take the children’s “ peace of mind ” away with you.
(Wetter au, Westphalia . — Wuttke, p. 201.)
If the fire springs out of the hearth, you are sure to
receive a visit. (Dutch. — Thorpe, N.M., Vol. Ill, p. 328.)
Vide Knife , Fork, Straw , Weaving, Cat , Bee.
Vitar : Norse Myth. A hero who kills Fenrir.
Vitus, St. : He cures dancing mania.
Vizaresa : Persian Myth. A fiend that drags the soul of the
wicked to hell.
Vlkodlak : The Bohemian name for a werewolf.
Vlukolak : The Bulgarian name for a werewolf.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
279
Vodyannies : In Russian folklore these were male water-
spirits who influenced the weather and luck of fishermen.
Their wives were drowned women. They are the male
counterparts of the Rusalka (q.v.). In the Ukraine, when
the sea is rough, these water-spirits are often seen on the
surface where they sport themselves and sing enchantingly ;
therefore it is not safe for bathers to go in the water after
sunset, nor without a cross about their necks. (Ralston,
Songs of the Russian People, 106, 129, 146). Sometimes
they are also called Pharaohs, and are believed to be the
ghosts of the host drowned in the Red Sea. (ib. p. 171.)
Voe : In Central America the voe is a bird, and is the messenger
of Hurakan (q.v.). (Tylor, P.C., Vol. I, p. 328.)
“Voice : A sweet voice may be obtained by drinking three
larks’ eggs on a Sunday before the church bells ring.
( Germany , Bohemia, Austria.)
Volves : Among the ancient Norsemen the Volves were
sorceresses who used their magical powers as a means of
intercourse with the dead. The Eddas often tell of men
and gods who visited the grave of a Volva for the purpose
of obtaining knowledge of the future.
Voodoo : A system of magic, snake worship, and probably,
in extreme forms, of human sacrifice and cannibalism
practised by Creoles and negroes in Hayti and other parts
of the West Indies and in the Southern States. (See
Puckett, Ch. Ill, pp. 167-310.)
Vougha : Celt. Myth. A kind of water-spirit.
Vovkulak : The Russian name for a werewolf.
Vrykolakas : (Gr. JB/wcoXaicas). In Modern Greece the were-
wolves are so called. (Lawson, p. 362 sq.)
Vui : The vui or spirits of the Melanesians have been described
by Codrington as follows : It lives, thinks, has more
intelligence than a man ; knows things which are secret
without seeing ; is supernaturally powerful with mana
has no form to be seen ; has no soul, because itself is like
a soul.
Vukodlak : The Serbo-Croatian name for a werewolf.
Vulcan : Class. Myth. Son of Zeus and Juno, husband of
Venus, god of the fiery element, especially in its fearful
aspect. Later he was represented as a god of metal
working.
Vulture : These birds live in the underworld, and are the
messengers of Death (India).
28o A DICTIONARY OF
Vyestitsa : Serbian Folklore. The vyestitsa, or sorceress, har-
bours a demoniac spirit which leaves her during sleep,
and flying among the houses in the shape of a bird or
butterfly, feeds upon people — especially children— whom
she finds asleep, tearing out their hearts and devouring
them.
w
Wade : Teut. Myth. A giant, regarded as a storm- or sea-
demon.
Waff : In Northumberland a " warning light ” is called a waff.
Wag-at-the-Wa’ : A spectre supposed to haunt and to take
its station on the chimney. It is seen to wag backwards
and forwards before the death of anyone of the family
(Roxburghshire).
Wahela : Lot’s wife who was confederate with the men of
Sodom, and gave them notice when any stranger came to
lodge in the house. Her sign was smoke by day and fire
by night. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt.
Waist : Measuring one’s waist, as for a dress, will bring ill
luck. (Bergen, C.S., p. 85 ; Abbott, p. 99.)
Waka-hirame : “ Young-sun-female.” A Japanese sun-deity
who is no doubt a personification of the morning sun.
Wake : In Ireland a “ wake ” is the watching of a dead body,
prior to burial, by friends and neighbours of the deceased,
with lamentations often followed by merry-making.
(Hazlitt, p. 341.)
People holding a wake must not sleep with their feet
pointing towards those of the corpse, because during sleep
life flows to the feet, and it is therefore possible that the
corpse may receive some life and be partly revived. (China.
Chin. Volksmarchen, p. 202.)
Waking : In the East it is considered unlucky to behold
certain people, such as misers, usurers, etc., immediately
on waking up in the morning. ( Ethnologie du Bengale ,
p. 122.)
Many people believe that it is dangerous to wake a sleep-
ing man ; his soul might have left his body and might be
unable to return immediately, in which case his body
would be left soulless, (le Braz, Vol. I, p. 212 ; Rhys,
C.F., pp. 602, 603, 606 ; G. Henderson, Survivals in
Beliefs among the Cells, pp. 83-85 ; Bertholet, p. 8.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 281
Walking : If you walk into the winter corn on Christmas
Eve, you will hear all that will happen in the village the
following year. (Ragner.)
Walpurgis Night : (First of May). If it rains at daytime on
the 1st May there will be a bad crop ; if at night, a good
ohe. (Wuttke, p. 19.)
Dew on the morning of this day signifies plenty of butter
(ib).
1st May is particularly suited for all kinds of magic, (ib).
The evening before the May Day is believed by Teutonic
races to be the occasion for “the witches’ sabbath on the
Brocken. The Devil attends these meetings in person,
(cf. Goethe, Faust.) Vide May Queen.
Walriderske : German Folklore. It is the spirit of nightmare
corresponding to the mar as. These spirits usually appear
in the form of rough-haired animals, and are of a black,
brown or even white colour. Mostly they are female
spirits. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 375.)
Wandering Jew : Vide Eternal Jew.
War : If children play at soldiers in the street, it is a sign of
an approaching war. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 323.)
Ravens flying towards each other foretell a war.
( Swabia . — Wuttke, p. 33.)
The Aurora Borealis gives warning of an impending war.
(Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 63.)
In Sweden the appearance of a hoopoe presages a war.
(Brand, Observations, p. 701.) Vide Shishchikuli, Mouse,
Comet.
Warning Stone : Bakers in Wiltshire and in some other counties
used to put a certain kind of pebble in their ovens to give
them notice when the oven was hot enough for baking.
When the stone turned white, the oven was fit for use.
Wart : If you count others’ warts, you will have them your-
self. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49.)
Stolen bacon is a specific remedy for warts. (Stracker-
jan, Vol. I, p. 83 ; Vol. II, p. 85.)
Toads killed slowly also cure warts. (Zingerle in
Wolfs Zeitschrift, I, 16.)
Warts can be cured by rubbing them with a piece of
fresh meat, and afterwards burying it. (cf. Notes and
Queries, 24 October, 1925.)
To cure warts, make as many knots in a string as the
number of warts you have, and then bury the string in
the gutter. [Tyrol— Wuttke, p. 157), or tie the string
round your hand. (Rhys, Vol. I, p. 297.)
282
A DICTIONARY OF
Lard or green elder will charm away warts. (Lord
Bacon, Nat. Hist., X, 997.)
To cure warts “ steal a piece of fresh butter, chop leaves
of viper’s bugloss, mix, and apply with a wish away.”
(Notes and Queries, 24 October, 1925). Or take a dew-
snail and rub it on the wart, then stick the snail upon a
thorn, and as the snail dries up, and “ goes away,” so
will the wart. (Elworthy, E.E., p. 59). Or rub them
with the blood from another man’s warts, but not your
own. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 83.)
Washerman : In India it is considered terribly unlucky to
see the face of a washerman (Dhobi) immediately on getting
up in the morning ; even his name should not be men-
tioned.
Washing : If a milkmaid neglects to wash her hands after
milking, the cows will go dry (1 Great Britain).
“ Wash and wipe together.
Live in peace together.”
Vide Towel. — Northern Ohio.
Water : To dream of water or fish denotes misfortune in
India, and in some parts of Germany. (Strackerjan,
Vol. I, p. 32.)
To dream of smooth water means good luck, of rough
water means ill luck. (St. John, N.B. — Bergen, C.S.,
P- 75-)
If you step over water that has been spilt, you will
die a speedy death. (Silesia. — Wuttke, p. 132.)
Virgins have the power of rolling water into balls.
(Grimm, Deutsche Rechtsalterthumer , 1828, p. 932.)
Vampires and other spirits are, as a rule, unable to
cross salt water. (Greece.— Lawson, p. 368.)
The spilling of water is a presage of good success,
especially in a journey. (India, Greece. — Lawson, p. 328.)
In certain provinces of France, it is believed that
between eleven and twelve o’clock on Christmas Eve,
water turns to wine. (Ragner.)
On the death of a sailor, his wife can hear the sound of
falling drops of water at the head of the bed. (Sauv£
in Melusine, Vol. II, col. 245.)
To dream of running water foretells sorrow (India),
or death. (Goodrich-Freer, More Folklore from, the
Hebrides, in “ Folklore.” XIII, p. 37.)
It is not advisable to give water out of the house after
sunset. (Macedonia. — Abbott, p. 101.)
Vide River.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
283
Water of Jealousy: This was a beverage which, the Jews
used to assert, no adulteress could drink without bursting.
(Five Philosophical Questions Answered, 1653.)
Water of Life: This is the water of a certain spring in the
underworld, which has the property of making anyone
immortal who bathes in it. (Grey.)
Water-bull : Celt. Folklore. The water-bull haunts pools and
swamps, and is the parent of strangely formed beasts
and monsters.
Water-colt : Celt. Folklore. It is the nearest approach to a
vampire. It is thoroughly vicious and sucks the blood of
maidens. (Rhys, Celtic Folklore, Vol. II, p. 673.)
Water-dog : Celt. Folklore. The Water-dog or Dobhar-Chu is
a formidable animal of popular superstition. (Campbell,
Sup. of Scot. Highl., p. 216.)
Water-horse : Celt. Folklore. A kind of supernatural animal
that haunts lochs. (Campbell, Sup. of Scot. Highl.,
p. 202 ; Sikes, Brit. Gob., p. 36 ; Bassett, p. 155.)
Water-kelpie : Celt. Folklore. It has the form of a grey colt ;
it wanders over the banks of the streams at night, and
haunts streams and torrents. (Campbell, Sup. of Scot.
Highl., p. 215 ; Bassett, p. 154 ; Stewart, p. 147.)
It is described as an aquatic creature emerging from its
native element only to pursue human prey. (Hazlitt,
P- 352.)
Waterman : A recent account, as late as 1864, says that
Bohemian fishermen do not venture to save a drowning
man from the waters, for fear that the waterman would
bring them ill-luck in fishing and drown them at the first
opportunity (Grohmann).
Waterspout : The Chinese believe that waterspouts are
occasioned by the ascent or descent of the dragon.
(Doolittle, Vol. II, p. 265.)
The Arabs account for them as caused by gigantic
jinns. (Lane.)
The Japanese believe the same as the Chinese, and
beat drums and gongs to dissipate the dragons. (Bassett,
P- 33-) '
Water- wagtail : Immediately you see the first water-wagtail
in spring, you should roll yourself on the ground, no
matter where you may be ; this will ensure good luck.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 66.)
284 A DICTIONARY OF
Wave : The ninth is thought to be the greatest wave by boat-
men of many lands. (BassETT, p. 24 et seq.)
Way : If you lose your way in your own house, it is a sign
someone will die. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 35.)
Way of the Gods : The Basuto name for the Galaxy.
Way of the Spirits : The Ojis call the Galaxy by this name j
they say that souls go up to heaven by this way.
Wealth : St. Vincent helps those seeking wealth, and St.
Anne bestows wealth to those who pray for it. Vide
Riches, Arm, Moles.
Weapon : The weapons of a deceased warrior were, among the
Hindus, the Norsemen, the Teutons, and other civilized
as well as savage races, burnt or buried or otherwise
disposed of along with the corpse, (cf. Bertholet, p. 22 ;
Macdonell, Vedic Mythology, p. 165 ; Ethnologic du
Bengale, p. 68 ; Handbook to the Ethnographical Collections
of the British Museum, 1910, p. 33, fig. 30.)
Weasel : If you see a weasel, you will die before the year is
out. (le Braz, Vol. I, p. 5 ; Elworthy, E.E., p. 31.)
You can never catch a weasel asleep.
It is unlucky to meet a weasel either in the house or
in the road (Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. I, p. 127 ; Greece —
Lawson, p. 327) ; or it is a good omen ( Macedonia —
Abbott, p. 108). Vide Fire.
Weather : Bad weather is caused by witches. (Lehmann,
A.Z., p. hi.)
Crows gaping at the sun foretell hot weather.
If ravens gape against the sun, heat will follow ; but
if they busy themselves in preening or washing themselves,
there will be rain.
When frogs croak more than usual, it is a sign of bad
weather.
When dogs wallow in the dust, expect foul weather.
When cats are very assiduous in cleaning their heads
and ears, it prognosticates bad weather.
Bad weather may be driven away by striking the
door-sill with an axe. ( Prussia . — Tettau und Temme,
Volkssagen, p. 284.)
“ Red at night.
Shepherd’s delight ;
Red in the morning,
Shepherd’s warning.”
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 285
If it rains during cohabitation, a daughter will be
born ; if it be fine weather, a boy. [Germany.— Ploss
Das Weib, Yol. I, p. 551.)
“ Evening red and morning grey
Will speed the traveller on his way.
Evening grey and morning red
Will bring the rain upon his head.”
Vide Ant, Crow, Swallow, Dolphin, Twelve Nights.
Weaving : If many threads of cotton break while weaving,
guests are sure to come. {Sweden.— Wikman, Die Magie
des Webens, p. 3.)
Wedding : To dream of a wedding forebodes a quarrel.
(Strackerjan, Vol. II, p. 124.)
A wedding is foretold by the blossoming of an apple
tree in autumn. {Lower Saxony. — Wuttke, p. 35.)
If you stumble while going up the stairs, it is a sign of
a wedding. Vide Pear tree, Crow, Turning, Marriage,
Rain.
Wedding Cake : If a piece of a wedding cake be put under the
pillow before retiring at night, a maiden will dream of
her future husband. {Great Britain.)
Wedding Day : The bride and bridegroom should not see
each other on this day till they meet at the altar. {Great
Britain.)
If the bride looks round on the way to the church on
her wedding day, she will be unfaithful to her husband.
Wedding Ring : If the wedding ring be taken off the finger
of a married woman, she will become a widow.
If an unmarried woman puts on a wedding ring, she
will remain a spinster.
To lose or break the wedding ring during the marriage
ceremony is an omen of extreme ill luck ; it presages the
death of one or both of the parties. {Hesse, Tyrol. — •
Wuttke, p. 40.) Vide Wreath, Vermilion Mark, Sty.
Wednesday : This is generally considered to be an unlucky
day ; even stables are not cleaned out on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. {Germany. — Wuttke, p. 10.)
The Jews thought it dangerous to drink water on
Wednesday or Friday nights. (Hastings, Die. Bib.,
Vol. IV, p. 603.)
Wednesday derives its name from Wodan to whom it
it is dedicated.
286
A DICTIONARY OF
“ Monday for health,
Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday the best of all,
Thursday for losses,
Friday for crosses,
And Saturday no luck at all.”
New England (Knortz, p. 23.)
Weeping : To dream that you are weeping is indicative of mirth.
Weeping Chamber : A chamber in the house of a certain
merchant in Beyrout. “ Invariably before one of its
(the house) members sickened unto death, a shower of
heavy drops, as from a thunder cloud, pattered upon the
pavement of the Weeping Chamber, and ’was heard
distinctly at night through the whole house/' (St. John,
Leg. Christian East , p. 29.) cf. Edgewell Oak , Death
Warnings.
Weight : A person weighs more fasting than after a good
meal. (Lean, Vol. II, p. 625.) Vide Egg.
Weird Sisters : The Norns of Scandinavian mythology were
designated by this name.
Wen : The hair from the tail of a horse is commonly regarded
as a cure for wens. (Black, Folk Medicine , p. 152.)
Wen Ju : Chin. Myth. In Buddhist superstition he is the third
divine being who helps in time of need. He is represented
as riding a werewolf. (Chin. Volksmarchen , p. 202.) Vide
Pu Hiang , Guan Jin.
Were- tiger : In the East there is a belief prevalent that a
man, by magic or otherwise, can transform himself into
a tiger. Vide Lycanthropy.
Werewolf : In Slavic and Teutonic countries wizards were
said to have the power of transforming themselves into
wolves and other animals. The metamorphosis is brought
about by means of magic incantations, or by rubbing the
body with certain ointments, or by wearing certain belts.
Not only do these people howl like wolves, but the meta-
morphosis is so complete that even their appearance is
changed into that of a wolf. (Vide O'Donnell, Were-
wolves; Baring-Gould, Book of Werewolves ; Leubuscher,
Wahrwolfe ; Elworthy, E.E., p. 29 et seq. ; Dalyell,
Dark. Sup., p. 559; Ennemoser, Hist , Mag., Vol. II,
p. 145 ; Abbott, p. 215.) cf. Loup-garou, Varulpes
Vroykolakas , Vovkulak , Vlkodlak , Vlukolak, Vukodlak.
Vide Lycanthropy , Loup -gar ou.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY 287
Western Royal Mother : Chin. Folklore. A fabulous being of
the female sex, “ dwelling upon Mount Kw’en-Lun at
the head of the troops of genii and holding from time
to time intercourse with favoured imperial votaries.”
(Mayers, Chin. Read. Man., p. 191.)
Whale : According to the Japanese, and the Hovas of Mada-
gascar (Bassett, p. 237), whales creep under the earth
and cause earthquakes.
To ensure a good catch of whales, the wife must lie
fasting till the husband returns from the whale-fishing.
(Frazer, G.B2., Vol. I, p. 28.)
In the Georgian islands, whales were scared and not
killed. (Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 270.)
The appearance of whales forebodes trouble. A whale
coming up the Thames during Cromwell's protectorate
greatly alarmed that iron man. (Bassett, p. 236, quoting
Aubrey, Miscellanies.)
“ What is the matter with you ? ” : Such direct questions
must not be put to a spirit. Say instead : “ What is the
matter with me? ” and the ghost will answer : “ Nothing
with you, but there is something the matter with me,”
and forthwith relate everything. {Tyrol, Wuttke, p. 224.)
Wheat : To prevent udieat from burning, pick up some seeds
silently above your head, and repeat the formula :
“ Weizen, ich setze dich auf den Band !
Gott behiite dich vor Trespe und Brand.”
Harz. — Prohle in Zeitschrift fur deutsche
Mythologie, I, 200.
Whirlpool : Over every vodyanny’s (water-spirit) house there
is a whirlpool. (Ralston, Songs of the Russian People ;
Bassett, p. 22.)
Whirlwind : Whirlwinds are caused by demons.
The demon of whirlwind may be seen by looking through
the sleeve of one’s coat {Serbia.)
A Whirlwind can be stopped by throwing a knife into
the midst of it. {Tyrol, Overpfalz— Schonewerth,
Vol. II, p. 113.)
Whistle : Whistling at night is extremely unlucky. (Stracker-
JAN, Vol. II, p. 20.)
Whistling is considered bad in Turkestan. If a husband
whistles, something will befall his wife; if the children
whistle, their father or mother will die. (Schuyler, Vol.
II, p. 30.)
288
A DICTIONARY OF
The Kirghis frequently whistle to bring about rain
(ib.), or it increases wind. (Brand, Observations , Vol. Ill,
p. 240.)
“ A whistling woman and a crowing hen
Are neither good for God nor men.”
Popular Rhyme (Great Britain),.
Whistling at sea brings about a storm. (Germany. —
Bassett, p. 145.)
White : White is the colour of innocence ; hence spirits with
hopes of redemption are dressed in white. (Strackerjan,
Vol. II, p. 68.)
White Lady : According to a tradition, a spirit dressed in
white appears to some one of the household or guard
of the Hohenzollern family, to announce the death of a
prince of Hohenzollern, or any important event in the
history of Germany. This spiiit is said to be that of an
ancestress and is known by the name of Bertha. She was
duly seen on the eve of Prince Waldemar's death in 1876.
cf. Melusine.
Whooping Cough : This disease can be cured by following
the advice of a man riding a piebald horse. Vide Horse ,
Ass.
Wichtelmannchen : Same as Hinzelmannchen.
Widerolf : Widerolf, Bishop of Strassburg, was devoured by
mice in the seventeenth year of his episcopate, because
he suppressed the convent of Selten on the Rhine, cf.
Hatto , Freiherr von Gutting en, Graaf, Adolf .
Wick : A glowing ball on the burning wick of a candle promises
a letter for the person towards whom it is pointing.
_ (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 33.)
Widow(er) : If you are the third — or fourth, etc. — -husband
(or wife) of a widow (er), you will die soon after the
marriage. (Jews of Vilna . — Jew. Em., Vol. IX, p. 601.)
If a woman's hair parts where it should not, it is a sign
that she will be a widow.
The point formed by the hair growing on the forehead
is called a widow's peak. In a woman it indicates that she
will be a widow. Vide Hen , Thorn , Hairy Body , Wedding
Ring , Vermilion Mark , Work.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
289
Wights : Old Norse Folklore. Wights were tutelary spirits
who had their abode in groves, hills and waterfalls, and
were able to dispense fortune or misfortune to human
beings. In German superstition, they were vivacious
spirit-like creatures who assisted men in their work' for
some remuneration.
Wild Dove : If a wild dove flies in a circle round a house, it
is a sign of some misfortune, probablv death. (Stracker-
jan, Vol. II, p. 26.)
Wild Fowl : Wild fowls are said to be scared by spectres
which no human eye can behold. (Cranz, Gronland,
P. 267.)
Wild Hunt(sman) : In European folklore this was supposed
to be a night-time chase of spectral hunters through the
wilderness ^or athwart the sky. The leader of this hunt
was the Wild Huntsman who was Odin or Wodan, god
of the wind and of the dead ; his attendants were the souls
of the dead. In certain places, above all in cross-roads,,
the spirit host is believed to come and hunt for the souls.
The principal time for the manifestation was the season
of Epiphany. In reality, it was the sound of the wind in
long winter nights, which gave rise to this superstition..
The curse of a deathless life has been passed on the
Wild Huntsman, because he desired to chase the red deer
for evermore. (Baring-Gould, Cur. Myths., p. 29;
Bassett, p. 363.) Vide Holda, Herne the Hunter , Grand
Veneur , Wodan.
Will : If you make your will, you will die. (Lean, Vol. II,
p- 563.)
Willis : According to a Bohemian tradition it is the name
given to certain young women who after their death, are
condemned to leave their graves every night and dance
till dawn. ( Petit Larousse, p. 1652.)
Will-o’-the-wisp : Northern Folklore. A spirit which comes
in the form of a light, and takes belated wayfarers out
of their way. They are the souls of unbaptized children.
Vide Ignis Fatuus, Swearing, Knife, cf. Blud, Feu Follet ,
J ack-o’ -Lantern, Irrlicht, ] holing, Khu, Latawiec.
Willow : According to a legend, Niobe at the loss of her
children was so disconsolate that she was changed into
a willow-tree. AwwV:
Willow is used for various magical purposes. (Lean,
Vol. II, p. 3790
290
A DICTIONARY OF
If you run three times round a willow-tree at sunrise
crying, “ The fever shall take thee and the sun shall warm
me,” the fever will depart. { Bulgaria . — Strauss, Die
Bulgaren, p. 400 ; Frazer, G.B ®., Vol. III., p. 27.)
Wind : Wind, rain, snow, ice, thunder, lightning and bad
weather are superstitiously believed to be caused by witches
(Lehmann, A.Z., p. in ; Frazer, G.B2., Vol. I, p. 123
«?•)
In Melanesia the wizard makes wind by waving the branch
of a tree and chanting the appropriate charm. (Cgd-
rington, pp. 200, 201.)
“ Comes the rain before the wind,
Then your topsails you must wind ;
Comes the wind before the rain,
Haul your topsails up again/'
Cape Cod, Mass .
Vide Whistling , Dolphin , Kingfisher.
Winding Sheet : A film of tallow, called a “ winding sheet/'
shot from the top of a lighted candle, gives warning to
the house of an approaching death.
Window : In many parts of the world, the window of a house
where a person is dying is thrown open in order to give
the departing soul a free passage. (Rhys, C.F. , p. 601 ;
Bertholet, p, 4 ; le Braz, Vol. I, p. 214.)
If a person watches a burial from a window, he himself
will follow the defunct to his grave. (Gregor, p. 214.)
cf. Soul , Door.
Wine :
“ Drink up your cup,
But not spill wine.
For if you do
Tis an ill sign/'
Herrick, Hesp., ccxii.
The spilling of wine is a good omen ; it portends
plenty. (1 Greece . — Lawson, p. 328.) Vide Water.
Winter : The severity or mildness of a winter can be foretold
from the breast-bones of a roast goose, or by the redness
of a robin's breast, or bv the number of berries on a holly
branch.
Wish : If two persons say the same thing at the same time,
their wish will come to pass provided they wish for some-
thing before another word is said .
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
291
I:
■:
If two people break together the “wish-bone” of a
chicken, the one in whose hand the part with the bit
sticking out is left will have the fulfilment of his wish.
If the palm of your hand itches, wish for something
and then if you
“ Rub it on brass.
It’s sure to come to pass.”
If you sneeze once, you will have your wish.
When you see the first star wish for something and say :
“ Star light, star bright,
First star I see to-night,
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish to-night,”
and your wish will come to pass provided that you do
not mention it to anyone. ( Eastern Massachusetts. —
Bergen, C.S., p. 69.) Vide Star, Speak, Thumb.
Witch : These are women who deny God, and renounce Him
and His grace ; who have made a compact with the devil,
and have given themselves up to him body and soul ;
who attend his assemblies and sabbaths, and receive from
him poison-powder to injure and destroy men, animals
and property, and who by their devilish arts stir up
storms, call down lightning, damage the corn, fields, etc.,
and confound the powers of nature. Many superhuman
powers are ascribed to them, such as flying through the
air on broomsticks, goats, etc., instantly assuming various
forms at will, causing and spreading diseases at will by
mere glance. They are supposed to come back to earth
as ghosts after death. (Hazlitt, pp. 641-662.)
“ To make ewes cast their lambs, swine eat their
farrow,
And housewives’ tun not work, nor the milk chum l
Writhe children’s wrists, and suck their breath in
sleep,
Get vials of their blood ! and where the sea
Casts up his slimy ooze, search for a weed
To open locks with, and to rivet charms,
Planted about her in the wicked feat
Of all her mischiefs ; which are manifold.”
Ben Jonson, The Sad Shepherd (1637)
Vide Dancing, Goat, Broomstick, Sabbath, Blood, Iron,
Scissors, Catseye, Coral, Broom, Blocksberg, Brocken,
Hekla, Calf, Cat, Dove, Flying, Horseshoe, Tulsi, Key,
Knot, Ice, Rain, Lightning, Storm, Rowan-tree, Urine
Vermin, Weather, Thunder, Illness, Saliva.
A DICTIONARY OF
292
Witchcraft : Bringing cattle in and out of stables backwards
protects them against witchcraft. (Strackerjan, Vol. II,
P- I7-)
Spitting in the right shoe is a talisman against witch-
craft. Vide Circasea Lutetiana , Witch.
Witch-doctor : Among the Africans, especially the Kaffirs,
a magician whose business is to “smell out ” or detect
witches, and to counteract magic spells by sorceries.
Witch Hazel : A forked twig of witch hazel made into a
divining rod was supposed in the 15th, 16th and 17th
centuries, to give warning of witches, and to be efficacious
in discovering them.
Witch’s Sabbath : Folklore. A midnight orgy in which witches
and devils are supposed to participate, often with travesties
of Christian ceremonies.
Wodan, Wode : The leader of the Wild Hunt or spirit-host
was given the name of Wodan. In process of time Wodan
was deified, and in some Teutonic countries came to be
recognized as a supreme god.
Wodejager : The German prototype of the version of the
Wild Huntsman.
Wolf : If a wolf sees a man before the man sees the wolf,
the man will be struck dumb.
Men are sometimes changed into wolves. (Vide Lycan-
thropy.)
A wolfs tooth used at one time to be hung on the
neck of a child to charm away fear.
If you mention the word “ wolf ” in the month of
December, you run the risk of being tom to pieces by
werewolves. (Tettau und Temme, p. 281 ; Frazer,
G.B\} Vol. I, p. 454.)
In Vancouver Island the wolf is important in ritual,
legend and crest representation, and is believed to grant
power and medicine. The wolves are supposed to form a
supernatural community of their own with the raven as
news-teller.
In popular superstition of many lands, wolves are the
ghosts of the dead. (cf. Rider Haggard, Nada the Lily.)
Vide Lycanthropy , Werewolves , Bereserker, Raven, Lycaon.
Wolfgang, St. : This saint relieves people suffering from gout.
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
293
Wolta : According to a superstition of the Gold Coast negroes,
ghosts build themselves houses and dwell on the banks
of the river Wolta. (Tylor, P.C., Vol. II, p. 7.)
Woman : In Sweden if a woman steps over a fishing-rod, no
fish will bite. (Jones, Credulities, p. 134 ; Bassett, p. 427.)
If seven women stand together at the cross-roads, there
will be rain. (Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 29.) (For numerous
superstitions connected with women see Ploss, Das Weib.)
Vide Amethyst, Canace’s Mirror, Alasnam’s Mirror,
Florimel’s Girdle, Sophia’s Picture, Boar’s Head, Ring,
Bertha’s Emerald, Drinking Horn, Water of Jealousy, Grotto
of Ephesus, Candle, Glowing, Salt-cellar, Bee, Virgin, Blood.
Woo-rie : The woo-rie of the Watchandis of Australia* is the
spirit of the warrior’s victim, which enters the warrior’s
body and_ becomes his warning spirit. It takes its abode
near the liver, and informs him of the approach of danger
by a scratching or tickling sensation. (Oldfield, Abor-
igines of Australia in Tr. Eth. Soc., Vol. Ill, p. 240.)
Wong : Wong is the Gold Coast negro’s generic name for a
fetish-spirit.
Woodcutter and the Wen : It is a popular Japanese story and
describes how a woodcutter’s happy disposition and
dancing were the means of curing himself of a wen by the
help of the elves. An envious neighbour came the next
day to cure himself too, but the elves were enraged at
his bad dancing and gave him the other wen too. (Griffis,
M.E., p. 494.)
Work : If a girl falls asleep at work, she will marry a widower.
{Hanover. — Wuttke, p. 42.)
Worm : If, on your way to a sick person, you pick up a stone
and find no living thing under it, it tells you that the sick
person will die ; but if you find there a worm or an ant,
it presages the patient's recovery.
If the sound of a worm boring the planks of a ship be
audible, it forebodes some catastrophe, probably shipwreck.
Wound : Vide Desert , Goat , Stag.
Woutan : Ger. Legend. The equivalent of Wodan.
Wraith : An apparition of a living person in the exact likeness,
thought to be seen just before his death. The Celtic
people are firm believers in “ wraiths.”
294
A DICTIONARY OF
King James tells us that the wraith of a person
newly-dead, or about to die, appears to his friends.
Wreath : The wreath or the ring of a bride accidentally falling
off during the marriage ceremony presages that the
marriage will be unhappy. [North and Central Germany. —
Wuttke, p. 40.)
Wreaths must not be laid on the bed of a sick person.
(Strackerjan, Vol. I, p. 49.)
Wreck : Vide Shipwreck.
Wren : If anyone kills a wren, he will break a bone before the
year is out (Brand, Observations, Vol. Ill, p. 195), or the
cows will give bloody milk (Chambers, Pop. Rhymes of
Scot., p. 188), or in France, his house will be struck by
lightning (Sebillot, Vol. II, p. 214.)
In Brittany, people think that if children touch the
young wrens in the nest, they will suffer from pimples
on the face, legs and so on. (Sebillot, Trad, et Sup., de la
Haute-Bretagne, Vol. II, p. 214 ; Frazer, G.B2., Vol. II,
P- 443-)
Sailors say it is unlucky to kill a wren. (Bassett, p. 275).
cf. Word-Lore, Vol. I, p. 161. Vide Robin.
Wudu-maere : “ Wood-spirit.” The Anglo Saxon name for
an echo (q.v.)
Wu Lao : Chin. Myth. The five old men who were the spirits
of the five planets. (Mayers, Chin. Read. Man. p. 279.)
Wuzl : In Oberpfalz Wodan appears as a frightful forest-
spirit, and is called either Wuzl or Hoymann. (Stracker-
jan, Vol. II, pp. 337, 342.)
X
Xaragua : According to an American Indian superstition,
there is a lake in the province of Xaragua, on the banks
of which the spirits of the good men live united to those
of their beloved and ancestors in “ shady and blooming
bowers, with lovely females, and banquet (ed) on delicious
fruits.” (W. Irving.)
Xisthorus : A Greek corruption of Atra-khasis, “ very clever ” ;
an epithet of Ut-napishtim (q.v.) who was probably the
hero of the deluge in the second Babylonian version of
the myth
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
295
Xisusthras : In the Babylonian creation myth, after man
was created, they became evil and it was decided to destroy
them. One man, Xisusthras, alone, with his family and
servants was saved. “ He took riches, seeds of all kinds,
his family and his servants in the ark and closed the
door. For six days and nights the storm continued and
began to subside on the seventh. He then sent forth a
dove which returned. After that a swallow which did
the same, and lastly a raven which did not return.
Xisusthras, after that, came forth with his family and
servants and offered sacrifices ” (S. Burrows, The Open
Door, Lond., 1926, p. 158). He was later made a demi-
god and his family became a race of giants. He corres-
ponds to Noah of the Biblical deluge myth. (For other
parallels of the deluge myth see Frazer, Folklore in the
Old Testament, Vol. I.)
Xmas : Vide Christmas, Beans, Coal, Birth, Carrying, Bread,
Crumb, Cross-roads, Water, Pie, Tree, Dog, Light, Shirt,
Grass, Theft, Stone, Hoop, Vermin, Elder, Egg, Salt,
Lightning, Fire, Walking, Yule Log, Fruit, Call.
Xuthus : Gr. Myth. Husband of Io.
Y
Yaai : In Vancouver Island these are fairy-like beings who
dwell on the summit of mountains. They are illusive
and disol ve at will like foam.
Yak : (pron. jak). In Bengal it is a ghostly custodian of a
treasure with which it was buried alive. Formerly misers
and others buried little boys alive with ceremonial rites
along with their treasures, under the impression that they
themselves would re-acquire their wealth in one of their
future births. (Tagore, Mashi and other Stories, p. 104 ;
Kaxkavati ; Ethnologie du Bengale, pp. 97, 98.)
Yakshas : Hind. Myth. A class of supernatural beings. They
have no very special attributes, but they were generally
inoffensive and classed as good people, but they occasion-
ally appear as imps of evil. (Dowson, H.C.D., p. 373-)
296 A DICTIONARY OF
Yama : Hind. Myth. The deification of the first mortal to
die, who became king and judge of the dead and chastiser
of the souls. In the Yedic period his abode was supposed
to be in the sky ; later, like Pluto, he was the lord of
- the infernal regions. He is green in colour, with red
garments, has inflamed eyes, rides a buffalo, and carries
a club and noose.
Yarrow : To dream of this weed denotes, to the married, deaths
in the family ; to the unmarried that they will be deprived
of the object of their affection.
Yatus : “ Sorcerers.” These are the male partners of the
Pairikas (q.v.).
Yawn : In Turkestan yawning is a most sinful and dangerous
habit ; it rises from an evil place in the heart (Schuyler,
Vol. II, p. 29), or in India, a Bhut may go down your
throat, or part of your soul may escape. (Crooke, P.R.,
Vol. I, p. 240.)
Yawning is caused by Death calling you. Snap your
middle finger and the thumb as an antidote. {India. —
Jackson, F.L.N., Vol. II, p. 54.)
Ydalir : Norse Myth. Uli’s dwelling in Asgard.
Yeast : If you dream of yeast, it tells you what you next
undertake will prosper and your wife will be in the
family-way.
Yebisu : A modem Japanese deity. He is represented with a
shining countenance and wearing an old Japanese costume ;
he is pictured as an angler with a fish dangling at the end
of his line. Merchants pray to him for success in trade.
Yedogonya : Serbian Folklore. They are demons who influence
the state of the weather, and are said to fight with each
other among the mountains, their missiles being huge
boulders and uprooted trees.
Yedza : The Polish equivalent of the Baba-Yaga (q.v.).
Yellow : Evil spirits are afraid of yellow. (India. — Crooke,
Vol. II, p. 28.)
A yellow leaf in peas or beans foretells a death. (Strack-
erjan, Vol. II, p. 69.)
Jaundice can be cured by drinking water in which
something yellow has been cooked. {Jew. Enc., Vol. V,
p. 426 ; Schiffer, Urquett, Vol. V, p. 290.)
In China charms are written on yellow paper. (Doo-
LITTLE, Vol. II, p. 308.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
297
Yen Wang : The Chinese equivalent of Pluto or Yama.
Yew : To dream of a yew tree denotes the death of an aged
person, through which you will receive some benefit.
Yezad, Yezdam : Persian Myth. The principle of good as
opposed to Ahriman, the principle of evil. Yezad created
twenty-four good spirits and, to keep them from the power
of the evil one, enclosed them in an egg ; but Ahriman
pierced the shell ; hence there is no good without some
mixture of evil. The Greeks called him Or(o)mazes.
Yezibaba : The Slovakian equivalent of the Baba-Yaga (q.v.).
Yezidi : One of a sect of reputed devil-worshippers of Armenia
and the Caucasus.
Yggdrasil : Norse Myth. The great tree which supports the
universe. A wise eagle sits at the top ; the roots are
gnawed by Nithhogg and other serpents. The squirrel
Ratatosk carries words of strife up and down. The tree
binds Heaven, Earth and Hell together. Its branches
extend over the whole earth, its top reaches heaven,
and its roots descend to hell. The three Noms (q.v.) sit
under the tree, spinning the events of man’s life.
Ying Chow : Chin. Folklore. One of the three isles of the
genii. In the island there is a spring whose water resembles
wine ; “ whoso quaffs a few measures of this beverage
becomes suddenly inebriated, and eternal life is given by
the draught.” (Mayers, Chin. Read. Man., p. 289.)
Ymir : Norse Myth. The primeval giant from whose body the
gods created the world.
Yogini : In the Panjab it is a kind of fairy who haunts water-
falls.
Yomi : Shinto Relig. It is supposed to be a land of darkness
where deities, ugly females, armies and road-wardens
are also to be found. (Aston, Shinto, p. 54.)
Yoni : The Hindu symbol of the fertility of nature under
which the consort of a male deity is worshipped ; it is
represented by an oval figure (the female organ), cf.
Phallus.
Yugas : Hind. Cosmogony. One of the four ages of the world.
Yule Log : This log was supposed to be a protection against
evil spirits and to assure safety against lightning and
thunder. (Ragner.) ■
i98 A DICTIONARY OF
Yun Hwa Fu-jen : Chin. Myth. A daughter of Si Wang Mu.
She is reputed to haunt the peaks of Wu Shan. (Mayers,
Chin. Read. Man., p. 291.)
Z
Zagreus : Gr. Relig. Dionysus as a bull-god. “ He is essen
tially a ritual figure, the centre of a cult so primitive,
so savage, that a civilized literature instinctively passed
him by, or at most figured him as a shadowy "Hades.”
(Webster quoting J. E. Harrison.)
Zahliak : A Persian monarch who had two boils on his
shoulders. To ease the pain of these boils he killed two
men every day and applied their brains to the wounds.
(Beck, Key to Neupers. Kon. Gr., p. 14.)
Zahuiti : Egypt. Myth. Another name of Thoth (q.v.).
Zainmyangwa : (Tortoise). It “ is an evil creature that destroys
from midnight to dawn thousands of creatures of the
good spirit/' (Venidad, XIII.)
Zalambur : Moham. Myth. A son of Iblis, a jinn, who pre-
sides over places of traffic. (Jew. Enc., Vol. IV, p. 521.)
Zamalmal : Babvl. Myth. An ancient sun-god worshipped in
the city of ICish.
Zemaka : Persian Myth. The spirit of winter personified.
Zemi : Among the North American Indians he is an inferior
deity, a kind of tutelary god.
“They believed in a supreme being. ... They
never addressed their worship directly to him, but to
inferior deities, called Zemes, kind of messengers or
mediators. . . . Each family had a particular zemi as
a tutelary or protecting genius, whose image, gener-
ally of a hideous form was placed about their houses.
. . . They believed their zemes to be transferable. . . .
Some had sway over the elements . . . some governed
the seas and forests, the springs and fountains. . . .
They gave success in hunting and fishing . . . and if
incensed caused them (streams) to burst forth into floods
and torrents, inundating and laying waste the valleys."
W. Irving, Life of Columbus (1828.)
SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
299
Zemzem According to Arab superstition, the souls of believers
remain in the well of Zemzem, and those of infidels in a
certain well in the province of Hadramot, called Barahoot
(Lane, A.S.M.A,, p. 264.)
Zephyr : Gr. Myth. The West Wind personified. It has been
introduced into modern language to mean a “light
breeze.” ,
Zerana-Akerana : In the Zoroastrian religion it is a symbol
of the Absolute, the Eternal unmanifest Being, the
Emanator of the Universe. (Gaskeix, D.S.L.S.M., p. 839.)
Zethus : Gr. Mvth. A son of Zeus and Antiope, twin brother
of Ampion.
Zeus : Gr. Myth. Son of Saturn and Rhea, brother of Pluto
and Neptune. He conquered the Titans, deposed his father,
gave the sea to his brother Neptune, and the underworld
to Pluto, and kept for himself the heavenly kingdom.
Zeus was regarded by the Greeks as a god of the Hellenic
race, the original seat of whose worship was Thessaly.
He is known as the “ father of the gods.” He was iden-
tified by the Romans with Jupiter.
Zitna matka : Slavic Folklore. A midday spirit who walks
among the corn-fields, and kills anyone who cannot
satisfactorily answer her riddles. She has been identified
with the Poludnitsa of the Poles.
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Mullhause, E. : Die Urreligion des deutschen Volkes, u.s.w.
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Murray, Dr. : The Oxford Dictionary. A new English Dic-
tionary on Historical Principles ; founded mainly on the
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Non-Classical Mythology.
North Indian Notes and Queries (N.I.N.Q.)
Notes and Queries (N. & Q.)
3io
A DICTIONARY OF
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Ragner, Bernhard : Legends and Customs of Christmas , in
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SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
3*i
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Robertson-Smith, W. R. : The Religion of the Semites.
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Rodd, Rennel : The Customs and Lore of Modern Greece.
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A DICTIONARY OF
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3X3
'SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
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Trollope, T. A. : A Summer in Brittany . (Lond.,.1840.)
Turner: Nineteen Years in Polynesia' (Load., 1868.)
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— Anthropology. (Load., 1881.)
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VetAla Panchavimsatl
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SUPERSTITIONS AND MYTHOLOGY
314
Wilkinson, J. Gardner : The Egyptians in the Time of the
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Wright : Historical Caricatures. (Lond., 1865.)
Wuttke, Dr. A. : Der deutsche V olksaberglaube der Gegenwart.
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Yule and Burnell, Hobson Jobson. A Dictionary of Anglo-
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Zeitschrift fOr Ethnologie.
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Zuccamaglio, W. von : Gedichte.
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